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
This is the sort of Gospel that stirs me up, because I don’t feel up to the challenge of being either the salt or much of a light. I think of Oscar Romero, Dom Helder Camara, Pedro Arrupe, Pope Francis, Dorothy Day, Dorothy Stang, Simone Weil or Sr Simone Campbell, and yes these folks were or still are the salt of the earth, the light of the world. They not only talked the talk, they also walked the talk. Pope Francis and Simone Campbell are still walking the talk; and many like them do so as well. I did at some point in my life and loved every minute of it. I just don’t think that checking the case ‘been there done that’ is enough however.
I guess this is what is working on me these days: the frustration of knowing a lot is to be done and my doing hardly, if any, of it. I feel then this vast anger inside of myself, which I want to turn away from myself onto others, blaming them for not doing what I sense I should be doing. But this will not do. I must own the feeling.
An energy which runs out too fast to do much of anything, a feeling of being mired in comfort, and not having found the way yet to give out a hand to someone who needs it.
Maybe this is my prayer today: Godde show me the path, show me how I can help you make this world a better place, show me the little I can do and grant me the peace of mind that goes with it.
In your Name.
Photo found here
Claire, we are all part of God’s Kingdom in different ways. You are angry that you can’t do more and yet you post an inspirational blog very frequently. The effect of your words cannot be measured – you have no idea how God is using this gift to motivate others to do what you are no longer able to do. Please know that our God recognizes the longing in your heart to do more and honours and loves you for it. We just need to rest in God and all will fall into place. Peace and blessings.
Ah, thank you, Lynda. Yours are kind words. I had not thought of it in those terms… Longing in my heart… resting in Godde… all will fall into place. Thank you for these thoughts. I will pray them 🙂
Claire, Lynda said what I was thinking as I read your frustration. You inspire many with your blog and on other sites where you make contributions. You are a teacher here. I have learned a lot about Ignatian Spirituality from you. I had the Jesuits in college and didn’t hear about it.
I know the feeling of not being able to accomplish what one used to, but I think Spirit is guiding us to a different, quieter calling. Maybe this is our desert time. Thank you for what you bring to me.
You too, Kathleen, are giving me much to think about… Not being able to accomplish what I used to… the Spirit guiding us to a different, quieter place… A desert time. Hm… 🙂 Thank you.
I do feel blessed by each one of you. Thank you.
The words are different but this is the prayer I return to again and again. Because once it has been lit, it’s hard to ignore that light or begin to know where to shine it.
Ah, thank you for this. Let us say it again and again then.