The gospel for the memorial of St. Barnabas apostle is taken from Matthew 5th chapter 13 to the 16th verse. 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. I’ve always loved this passage because one of the things that is clear when you look at what salt is, salt never loses its flavor. You don’t have stale salt without any seasoning power.

And also a light. Once even a match is lit in a totally dark universe, that light is not extinguished by the darkness. It gives us an image of the power of the love that God has created for us to dwell within us, to bring light to those around us. Please ponder this reflection and I will close with a prayer. Sam Sa Foreign Father, your spirit within us is unlimited in its ability to do the work you call us to do. Give us the trust in what you’ve given us, not in what we ourselves think we need to create.

And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.