Twenty-Second Monday of Ordinary Time

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.

We are all called to be Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and works and here Jesus gives us an idea of how we can do this. We need to be bearers of the good news to those around us, especially the poor and those in need of God’s love, mercy, and grace. Through our words and works we can bring comfort and perhaps even joy into the lives of those who need it most. If we do this, we will become living scriptures, manifesting God’s Will in all things and bearing witness to the gospel with our daily actions. Let us proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord with our every breath and thereby summon others to know, love, and serve the Lord and each other.

How do we bring glad tidings to the poor or liberty to the captives? How do we free the oppressed and those in most need of God’s mercy? What can we do in our lives to proclaim the kingdom of God?

O Lord, help us to manifest your gospel message with our every word and work.

Amen.

Tenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

We are called to be the salt of the earth and flavor the world with the God's Love. Salt not only enhances the taste of foods, but also preserves them. Just like salt, we are asked to enhance the lives of others through love and preserve them from sin. If we forget to manifest the essence of love in our thoughts, words, and works, then they become good for nothing. We can think, say, and do all the right things, but if these things do not come from a place of love, then God throws them out and tramples them under His foot. They hold no meaning for Him, just as they hold no real meaning for us besides our selfishness. So let us make sure that our thoughts, words, and works have God as their source, center, and summit. In this way we will retain the image of God within us and it will flavor all the things we do.

How do we make sure our thoughts, words, and works have our love of God and neighbor as their origin? How do we enhance and preserve the lives of others? When we take action is it out of love or selfishness?

O Lord, we are the salt of the earth. Let us not lose our taste.

Amen.