FIRST READING
The jar of meal was not spent according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by Elijah.
A reading from the first Book of Kings (1 Kings 17:7-16)
In those days: The brook [where Elijah was hiding] dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him. “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a pitcher; and now, I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” And Elijah said to her, “Fear not; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make for yourself and your son. For thus says the Lord the God of Israel, ‘The jar of meal shall not be spent, and the pitcher of oil shall not fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.”’ And she went and did as Elijah said; and she, and he, and her household ate for many days. The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the pitcher of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord which he spoke by Elijah.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 4:2-3.4-5.7a and 8 (R. 7b)
R/. Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
I called, the God of justice gave me answer;
from anguish you released me,
have mercy and hear me!
Children of man, how long will my glory be dishonoured,
will you love what is futile and seek what is false? R.
Know that the Lord works wonders for his faithful one;
the Lord will hear me whenever I call him.
Tremble, do not sin:
ponder on your bed and be still. R.
R/. Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord.
“What can bring us happiness?” many say.
You have put into my heart a greater joy
than abundance of grain and new wine can provide. R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 5 : 16
Alleluia. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“You are the light of the world.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Matthew 5:13- 16)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Saint Augustine said: “Everyone, therefore, who obscures and covers up the light of good doctrine by means of temporal comforts, places his candle under a bushel.” Every follower of Christ is a light of the world and the salt of the earth. While salt is an agent that preserves and brings taste to the fore, light gives warmth and energy. As the light of the world, we are called to expose darkness and influence those living in darkness and bring them back to the benefit of the light. As salt of the earth we are called to strive hard to preserve true faith, values of the kingdom and the teachings of Jesus. Being the salt of the earth and light of the world, we live a life founded on the values of the beatitudes.