Salt and Light

Monday, August 08, 2011
Matthew 5:13-16( Salt and Light)

Happy feast of St. Dominic, especially to his followers the Dominican Friars Preachers and Sisters!  St. Francis was a contemporary of St. Dominic, and legend has it that they met in Rome at the Fourth Lateran Council.  It is said they considered joining their two orders but decided against it.  That was a very wise decision, for Dominicans and Franciscans are very different!  We glory in our differences for they are complementary and round out our services to the Church.  For today’s feast, we have special readings.  The Gospel is from the Sermon on the Mount and gives the famous images of the Christian being “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world”.  The cloistered Poor Clares are often criticized for “hiding their light under a bushel basket”.  They respond by saying that their lamp is on the lampstand!  When you put a lamp up high, no one looks at it.  It is there only to shine on “all that is in the house”.  And then there is the salt.  It disappears into the food, not calling attention to itself but enhancing the flavor of the meal.  The cloistered nun is not seen, but grace flows from her life of love to give brilliance and savor to the whole Church.