Fith Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “Who you are speaks so loudly that it drowns out what you are saying”  Simply said - we are measured by who we are and what we do, not by what we say!
 
A while ago at my father's wake, I was especially touched by an old friend that I had not seen in a long time.  He came and approached me – he didn’t say a word and just embraced me.  Who he was and just his presence spoke louder than any words!  When we use our gifts and are present to others we impact their lives and just as importantly we are also changed.
 
As Emerson noted – who we are drowns out our words!  People measure us by what we do and question whether it is in alignment with what we say.  This doesn’t mean that what we say is not important – but simply that others expect that what we say and do are aligned with our words and our faith as Christians.  We need to ask ourselves: Are our words and actions, consistent with Gospel values?
 
In our first reading Isaiah shares a powerful statement of how we are called to live out our lives:  “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked"  As a prophet in the 8 ^th century Isaiah was calling the ruling elite as well as us today to recognize the plight of poor and marginalized. The Rulers at the time talked much about reaching out and helping the poor, but they were only empty words without action. If we embrace the gospel we cannot ignore the poor or those pushed to the margins of society.  This mandate is as important today as it was in the 8 ^th century.  Isaiah’s words also demand that we look at the alignment of our words and actions. To truly acknowledge God, and live out the Gospel in our lives. Like Isaiah, we need to call our leaders to advocate for the poor, the oppressed, the unwanted. We cannot just speak about the poor. We must act.
 
Isaiah’s words are just as important in our world now as when he spoke them centuries ago.  His message is imploring us to let the light of the Lord be seen in our lives.  To use our light to expose injustices in our world.   So society can see us as God’s people who dispel the darkness by using both our words and actions.  We are to be a beacon of light in our world. A beacon of compassion, a beacon of sharing, sharing the gifts we have been given with others. Truly living out our faith.
 
In the Gospel Matthew uses two central and powerful images,  that of Light and Salt.  You might ask, what does Matthew mean when he speaks about salt? Salt may seem like a strange image to us in our time. We might ask what does it mean to be “salt of the earth” what is Matthew referring to?  Although there is no one single interpretation I believe that he is using salt as a metaphor – a symbol of change -  a catalyst.  A catalyst is a term that means a change agent.  In chemistry a catalyst when combined with other ingredients makes something new!  Our food is enhanced and changed when we add salt, in winter our roads are changed and made safer with salt!  The Eucharist is a catalyst as we approach this Eucharistic table we experience a change in our hearts and lives.   
 
Matthew is saying that we are called to be salt - to be catalysts – to be change agents in our world.   We are called to be living examples of service to those in need.  Who we are, and what we do need to be aligned. We are called to bring about change by using God’s light and life in our world and in our lives.  
 
It can be very hard when we see so much poverty, hardship and many other needs in our world, it can make us feel powerless.  We can relate to the people in Jesus’ time who wanted an all powerful savior king, one who would instantly cure and solve all the problems of the world! Wouldn’t that be nice today! However, God is calling us to be that change, to be God’s hands and feet. Jesus taught us by example he didn’t just speak – he healed, he confronted leaders. He spent most of his time living out his call to transform the world by being with all people, the ordinary, the sinners, the outcasts, the poor, the sick!  He also showed us how ordinary people including the poor and outcast as his disciples can transform our world.  He didn't seek out the rich or learned people of his time.  He taught us not to look to the rich and powerful people for all the answers.  Rather Jesus demonstrated that he would be with us, the poor, the broken, the weak.  And despite our weakness - with his help we can help transform our world. I want to thank you for all the efforts you do in our parish to help the poor.  Your efforts truly make a difference.
 
God accomplishes extraordinary things through ordinary flawed people.  The apostles were poor fishermen, Paul was a tent maker.  We are store clerks, teachers, laborers, bank tellers, engineers, medical professionals.  We are charged to serve God despite our weakness and our fears.  We need to continue to be aware of those around us and reach out with the gifts that God has given us and help transform our world one small corner at a time.  We transform our world when we do simple acts of kindness, when we visit a sick neighbor, help out or volunteer at school.  When we take time to visit someone is grieving and needs someone to listen to them. As we look forward to celebrating the Eucharist together, let us remember that it is often the simple things we do that can make a significant difference.