Sunday Meditation: The Salt of the Earth

It’s a simple Gospel this Sunday.  Jesus just gives us three images, salt, a city on a hill, and light.

 

Jesus said to his disciples:

"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."

~Mt 5:13-16

 

Simple and you so profound.  Let Dr. Brant Pitre explain it  in two videos.

 

 

These images have been used in a number of hymns.  Let’s give you one.

 

Go forth and be the light of the world!

Sunday Meditation: A New Heavenly City of Jerusalem

Another reading from the Book of Revelation, again today’s second reading.

 

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain

and showed me the holy city Jerusalem

coming down out of heaven from God.

It gleamed with the splendor of God.

Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,

like jasper, clear as crystal.

It had a massive, high wall,

with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed

and on which names were inscribed,

the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.

There were three gates facing east,

three north, three south, and three west.

The wall of the city had twelve courses of stones as its foundation,

on which were inscribed the twelve names

of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

 

I saw no temple in the city

for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb.

The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it,

for the glory of God gave it light,

and its lamp was the Lamb.

        -Rev 21:10-14, 22-23 

This follows from last week’s meditation on the New Heaven and New Earth.  Now we have the New City of Jerusalem floating down from heaven.  Here is a wonderful homily on this beautiful passage by Bishop Robert Barron.  This is a must listen.

 

This homily puts the entire Bible into perspective.  With the Book of Revelation, it really does bring Judaism to conclusion.  As I said last week, we don’t get enough readings from the Book of Revelation.