Pope: Christians must be "light and salt", but “light to illuminate others; salt to give flavor to others"

The Christian must be "light and salt", but "light and salt, for others, not for oneself.

Jun 08, 2016

VATICAN CITY: The Christian must be "light and salt", but "light and salt, for others, not for oneself. The light does not illuminate itself; salt does not flavor itself".  And prayer is the battery that produces light, said Pope Francis.

The Pope was commenting on the Gospel passage (Matthew 5,13-16) in which Jesus tells his disciples that they are the salt and light of the world. Jesus, noted Francis, always speaks "with simple words, with simple comparisons, so that everyone can understand the message." Hence the definition of a Christian needing to be light and salt. Neither of the two things, the Pope observed, is in or of itself: "The light is to illuminate others; salt is to flavor, preserve others. " But how can a Christian make sure that the salt and light are never lacking, to ensure that the oil to light the lamps does not end? "What is the Christian's battery to produce light? Simply prayer. You can do so many things, so many works, even works of mercy, you can do so many great things for the Church - a Catholic university, a college, a hospital ... - and even a monument to the benefactor of the Church, but if you do not pray it will all be a little dark. How many works become dark due to lack of light, lack of prayer. What keeps, what gives life to Christian light, what illuminates it is prayer. "

Praying "seriously", "a prayer of adoration to the Father, praise to the Trinity, a prayer of thanksgiving, even prayer to ask things of the Lord, but praying from the heart." That, he said, "is the oil, that is the battery, which gives life to light." Even salt, he continued, "does not flavor itself." "Salt becomes salt when it is given. And this is another attitude of the Christian: Giving oneself;  to spice up the lives of others, to flavor many things with the message of the Gospel. Giving of oneself. The Christian has salt to give it to others, salt is to be given, but not for oneself. Both of them - this is curious -, light and salt, are for others, not for oneself. The light does not illuminate itself; Salt does not flavor itself. "

Of course, he noted, you may be wondering how long salt and light can last, if we continue to relentlessly give. Here is where " the power of God comes into play, because the Christian is a salt given by God in baptism," it is "a thing that is given as a gift and is constantly gifted to you if you keep giving it, illuminating and giving. It never ends".

This is precisely what happens in the first reading to the widow of Zarephath who trusts the prophet Elijah, and so her flour and oil are never exhausted. So, the Pope addressed a thought to the present life of Christians "Illuminate with your light, but defend yourself from the temptation to illuminate yourself. This is a bad thing, it's 'mirror spirituality’: illuminating myself. Defend yourself from the temptation to care only for yourself. Be light to illuminate, be salt to flavor and preserve. " Salt and light, he continued, "are not for ourselves", they are for giving to others "in good works." And so "let your light shine before men. Why? So they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven. That is: to return to the One who gave you the light and gave you the salt. " "May the Lord help us in this - concluded the Pope – to always take care of the light, not to  hide it, to put it into action." And the salt, "giving it in the right quantities, the amount that is needed, but give it" so that it may grow. "These are the good works of the Christian".--Asia News

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