10 June 2025 – Tuesday 10th Week in Ordinary Time
10 June 2025 – Tuesday 10th Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial: St Ephrem, deacon and doctor of the church, c 303-373, native of Mesopotamia, ministered in Edessa (Turkey), scripturalist and liturgist who defended against Arianism and encouraged devotion to Our Lady.
First reading: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
God himself has anointed us and given us his Spirit
I swear by God’s truth, there is no Yes and No about what we say to you. The Son of God, the Christ Jesus that we proclaimed among you – I mean Silvanus and Timothy and I – was never Yes and No: with him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. That is why it is ”through him’ that we answer Amen to the praise of God. Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.
Responsorial: Psalm 118:129-133, 135
R./: Lord, let your face shine on me
Your will is wonderful indeed;
therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches the simple. (R./)
I open my mouth and I sigh
as I yearn for your commands.
Turn and show me your mercy;
show justice to your friends. (R./)
Let my steps be guided by your promise;
let no evil rule me.
Let your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees. (R./)
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16
(You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.)
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under-foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
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Our “Yes!” to God
Just as salt sharpens the flavour of food and light lets us see what is there in a room, so the special salt and light provided by Christ’s Spirit within us, enable us to say a generous “yes” to God’s promptings, and see things as they are. The Holy Spirit of Pentecost puts into our mind this love for God and passion for truth so we can discover what God wants us to see. Sharpened in taste by the salt of this Gospel, and enlightened by the Spirit, we can respond to God with full hearts. A special kind of “yes” was spoken by the widow of Zarephath when the prophet Elijah asked her for food and water. Her generous, spontaneous answer was prompted by trust in God and her belief in Elijah’s miraculous powers. Her faith, and her willingness to share with this stranger her last reserves of food and drink, brings to a spectacular blessing, to which Jesus refers, centuries later, as a classic instance of the powers of a prophet.
To return to Christ’s words about salt and light, when they share his message with others his disciples do not add anything totally new but by their wit and expressive power they helped people recognize and value what they already were, as creatures of God, redeemed by Jesus. What the disciple says and does should be like a candle set on a lampstand to give light to the house. “So your light must shine, so that they may see your goodness in action and give praise to your heavenly Father.” As disciples and as ministers of his blessing we are all called to be light and salt, enabling others to see how much love God has invested in them. We can lead others, and ourselves, to know the hidden presence of the Holy Spirit. It is Jesus who has anointed and sealed us with the Spirit in our hearts. This Holy Spirit is our down payment, our first reception of the full glory and joy of heaven, the beginning of the final “yes” when God will receive us home.