"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 NKJV
With the arrival of December, Christmas preparations begin, a time that should warm hearts increasingly pervaded by growing feelings of sadness and dissatisfaction. Every little light and decoration should remind us that Christ came so that His light could shine in the darkness of humanity. The Johannine text is very clear in pointing us to Jesus, the atonement for our sins, as the only one who can reconcile us to the Father and give us eternal life, the only gift that cannot be purchased because it is truly given. It is regrettable that this glorious truth is in danger of disappearing in the glitter of festive decorations. That is why I would like to ask believers not to get lost in the decorations, to remember their vocation because it is no longer a time for waiting. The good God has deposited in each person a special gift, which we unconsciously tend to overlook. It is not simply a personal quality. The apostle Paul reminded young Timothy of this truth (1 Timothy 4:14-16) and encouraged him not to fear facing vituperation and abandonment. He was forcefully urged to live against the tide: to be an example in word, conduct, love, feelings, spirit, faith and chastity. How difficult it has become to be faithful to the Lord! And the apostle Paul encourages us, too, to be an example despite the fact that it involves toil.
I hear echoing the Lord's words, “You are the salt of the earth; but, if salt becomes insipid, with what will you salt it? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown away and trodden down by men” (Matthew 5:13). Jesus asks Christians of all times to reveal their identity: salt of the earth, light of the world, a city set on a mountain. Unfortunately, many like salt dilute (dissolve) in the water, and beyond the savoriness, it worries that they are not noticed at all. Salt was mainly for giving taste to food and preserving food; Christians are called to give flavor to life, to fight against decay, to be that quid that makes a difference. We need to rediscover the “measure” of our presence among people, too often set aside right under the decorated tree. Like salt in food, with the right measure and appropriate discretion we should be contributors of taste. Jesus warns that in order to perform the function of salt in the world, we must be authentic and not become bland. If salt does not maintain its quality, then it is no longer needed, but can only be thrown away; so, too, if the Christian community becomes worldly, flattening itself on the “that's the way everyone does it,” if it is no longer capable of having its specificity, the “Christian difference,” it has no reason to be.
The image of salt takes on a rather surprising connotation, as Jesus warns us of the danger of losing its own flavor. Beware of mixing salt with that which alters its purity and genuineness. The gospel has its own flavor, and it must be allowed to have it; it must not be distorted, otherwise it is no longer gospel. Just as the church that modifies it is no longer the Lord's church. If we tend to sweeten the gospel to make it more “workable,” we are depriving it of its flavor. This is the failure of mission, metaphorically indicated by the image of salt thrown on the road: it is trodden down, like dust to which no one pays attention or attaches any value. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). As salt of the earth, we are called to keep the faith we have received and pass it on intact to others. A challenge for us is to keep the deposit of faith intact. And I am aware that at this time many are torn between the desire to evangelize and abstaining from all things commercial. In the face of the enormous need in the world let us understand that the field is large and that there is opportunity for everyone. Do not ignore the gift within you. Be a gift yourself.
Weekly Bible Reading Plan #50
December 09 Hosea 1-4; Revelation 1
December 10, Hosea 5-8; Revelation 2
December 11, Hosea 9-11; Revelation 3
December 12, Hosea 12-14; Revelation 4
December 13, Joel; Revelation 5
December 14, Amos 1-3; Revelation 6
December 15, Amos 4-6; Revelation 7
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