We live in a world where appearances frequently matter more than they should. Contrary to this predominating tendency, Jesus teaches us that what we do flows from who and what we are. We can enlighten the world with the message of the gospel, because our lives have been transformed by that gospel and now we ourselves are light for others. We can serve others in various ways, only because we have been saved by God’s grace and now we are agents of that grace in the lives of others. Our own renewal becomes the means through which God renews the world.
This may sound grandiose, but it isn’t. It is the truth about the way God works. Extraordinary things are accomplished through ordinary people. Jesus grew up as the son of a carpenter; some of the apostles were fishermen; Paul was a tentmaker; we are clerks and teachers, bus drivers and doctors, bank tellers and engineers. Like Paul we come to ministry in weakness and fear and much trembling. It is the Spirit and power of God that work the wonders, and God works them through mundane elements of life such as light and salt.
As children, many of us learned the corporal and the spiritual works of mercy. We learned that we can practise them in every walk of life. Today’s readings remind us of this. We may not be asked to perform extraordinary feats, but all disciples of Jesus are called upon to do the ordinary things of life in an extraordinary way.
© Dianne Bergant CSA, https://www.liturgyhelp.com/calendar/date/2026Feb08/0/RefDiBer