In today’s Gospel Jesus is tough. No sweet, politically correct, multicultural Jesus here. He insists that his message be taken seriously.
Then, at the end of the reading he links up his demands with a more positive turn. If I put into practice what I have become through my baptism I can be “the salt of the earth.” That is, I can have the power to be a witness to his teachings, the power to bring others to the Father with him.
How do I get that outburst of power? One way is by my faithful participation in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source of nurturing the life I received at my baptism, the life of the Trinity. It is the fertile ground where fraternal love and peace grow.
So, here are some questions for me today: How do I prepare myself for receiving the Eucharist? After leaving the church where I receive it, do I ever reflect on who it was that received? Does it become the salt of love that gives meaning to those I encounter?