Rechargables

Jesus has gone back to Heaven.

But before leaving, he established his Church.

And charged it with the task of spreading the Good News.

Then he sent his replacement to dwell with us forever—
The Holy Spirit, His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ.

We've remembered and celebrated all that during the past two weeks.

As we tracked our liturgical year through the Ascension and Pentecost.

Today's Gospel fits right in with the message Jesus was giving at his departure.

Directing his Church, defining its mission.

But actually, he gave today's message much earlier, at the Sermon on the Mount.

It's a description of how Jesus sees his disciples.

And what he expects of them.

His disciples gathered there on the Mount.

And also all his disciples for all time.

They are the salt of the earth.

Like salt, they preserve and purify—and even spice-up the world.

They are the light of the world.

In a world troubled by darkness and evil and uncertainty,

Their good deeds light the way for others.

Their good deeds draw others to the glory of God.

Today, we are those disciples.

And we are also the Church.

Jesus is counting on us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

There's no one else to do the job.

Where can we find the help we need to meet Jesus's expectations?

We might say as Peter said at the transfiguration: It's good that we are here.

Attending Mass is a tremendous aid in enabling us to carry out our mission.

We grow in knowledge and wisdom through the Scriptures.

We grow in community through the gathering.

We grow in grace and peace and all virtue through the Eucharist.

We get doubly recharged.

Recharged in the sense of an energy boost.

And recharged in the sense of being charged again with our mission:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

Tuesday, 10th Week of  Ordinary Time

Mt 5:13-16          Read this Scripture @usccb.org