Intimacy’s Public Mission
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Matthew 5:13-16
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. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts us to pray for the grace of holy authenticity—that our outward actions, words, and “good deeds” may be a true, courageous, and unhidden reflection of the deep, intimate love we have received from the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Reflection
Jesus looks at us, in the midst of our messy, beautiful, complicated lives, and makes a profound declaration: “You are…” He doesn’t say, “You should be,” or “Try to be.” He states it as a fact, a new identity gifted to us through our intimacy with Him. We are the salt. We are the light. This identity is the first and most powerful fruit of our relationship with the Trinitarian God. When we rest in Him, we take on His “flavor” and begin to glow with His “light.”
But this gift is not for us alone. Salt is not meant to stay in the shaker; light is not meant to be hidden. Here, intimacy flows directly into mission. Salt’s purpose is to share its essence, to preserve and enhance. Light’s purpose is to share its brightness, to scatter darkness and reveal the path. Our mission is simply to be what He has made us, in every encounter.
This is where obedience comes in. Our obedience is not a joyless duty, but the simple, joyful act of not hiding. It’s the obedience of a lamp that agrees to be placed on a stand, or the salt that allows itself to be poured out.
And what about our prayer: “to share and receive”? We receive our light and our saltiness from God in our moments of intimate prayer. We share it in the “good deeds” Jesus mentions. When we receive another person in an encounter, truly listening to them and seeing their dignity, we are the light illuminating their worth. When we share a word of hope or a simple act of kindness, we are the salt bringing the flavor of the Gospel to a world that is often bland or bitter.
We fail in our mission only when we “lose our taste” or “hide our light”—when we allow fear or self-consciousness to convince us to put a basket over the love shining forth from us. This passage calls us to let that love be seen, not for our own glory, but so that others might see in us the goodness of our Father.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Fulfilling Your Mission: Daily Evangelization
Proclaiming the Gospel is about showing how Jesus has personally impacted your life, partnering with Him in His work of restoration.
Restore Creation (Your “Good Deeds”): Your Baptismal mission is to partner with Jesus in restoring all things. This happens in the “good deeds” He mentions. When you (knowing your interest in cooking) share a meal, you are restoring someone’s body and spirit. When you (knowing your interest in dehydrating) preserve the harvest, you are a steward partnering with creation. Do these simple, loving acts in His name. These deeds are the visible evidence of the light within you, and they are what draw others to “glorify your heavenly Father.”
Be the Salt (Sharing Flavor): Salt enhances and preserves. Think about a specific way Jesus has enhanced your life—how His love brought you peace in a time of anxiety, or gave new meaning to your daily work. When you’re with someone, don’t be afraid to share that specific story. It’s not preaching; it’s witnessing. It’s saying, “This is how Jesus has loved me.” This “flavors” your encounter with the personal, lived reality of the Gospel.
Be the Light (Illuminating Dignity): Light illuminates. One of the most powerful ways Jesus has loved us is by illuminating our true dignity and worth to the Father. You can evangelize by reflecting that same light onto others. When you receive someone, give them your full, undivided attention. Listen to their story. See them. In a world where people so often feel invisible, your presence becomes the “city on a mountain,” a visible beacon that wordlessly says, “You are seen, you are valued.”
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post