What is a “practicing Catholic”? Usually, it means someone who is in Mass every week.
But let’s take another look at it. That seems rather “bare bones”. Someone who lives the Sacramental Life of the Church is certainly a “practicing Catholic”, but let’s go deeper.
Jesus, in the Gospel shows us to go deeper.
“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.
Is it possible for us be a practicing Catholic, the “Salt of the earth”, but lose that taste that salt is supposed to have? If, so, the next words from Jesus should cause us to take a closer look at ourselves.
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.
The Psalm takes us deeper,
The just man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
We don’t celebrate the just men and women who live in our midst, not nearly enough. Our faith is not some private secret. I recently anointed a parishioner who is at the end of his life. It struck me that he fit today’s readings very well. I read these readings to him.
As I read Isaiah to him, I pointed out to him that this was him,
Thus says the LORD:
Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own.
As long as I have known him, and others like him, it is obvious that the “upright” and “Just” aren’t just biblical people, but people all around us who fervently share their “bread”, their gifts with those in need. Those in our community who minister with St. Vincent de Paul to the poorest in our neighborhood, these are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.
Our catechists who prepare our children for their sacraments, these are the light of the world. Those who serve our community tirelessly; these are more than simply practicing Catholics. These let the Word of the Lord shine through them.
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.
If you drive out to Community First here in our parish boundaries, you will see “Salt of the Earth”. If you go down to John Paul II Life Center you will see the light of the world. We are not called to be “radical Catholics” but Catholics who allow the word of God to live in us and through us. We can’t let the world win. We can’t let the world cower us into hiding our lamps. We have to live our faith out in the open.