Contemplation

Today’s Gospel reading, the 5^th Sunday in Ordinary time, directly follows on from last week’s Gospel in which through the Beatitudes Jesus tells us that our relationship with God goes beyond the keeping of the ten commandments. Let us enter the scene and listen to Jesus as he goes on to describe this life of discipleship by using every day commodities of salt and light.

• Who are you in the passage? One of his disciples? One of the crowd? A bystander? Yourself?

• How long have you been listening to Jesus or have you just arrived? What time of day is it?

• Take some time to take in the surroundings. Visualise the hillside where Jesus is teaching. Is it a grassy slope or a rocky outcrop? Is there much vegetation; trees, plants, bushes?

• Look at the people around you. Look at the expressions on their faces. What do you notice? Is there murmuring after Jesus’ discourse on the Beatitudes? Have some people left? What is the mood of the crowd as a whole?

• Where are you in the crowd? In the front? Middle? On the margins?

• Listen to the sounds, the birds, the voices of the crowd, perhaps chatting to each other, the breeze rustling the leaves.

• Feel the warmth of the sun and the air on your face. Feel the texture of the ground where you are standing or sitting.

• What smells, and other details about the location do you notice? Perhaps the smell of the air, the colour of the sky, the presence of clouds etc.

• Are you surprised by Jesus’ discourse on what is required to deepen our relationship with God. Do want to find out more? What is it about Jesus that makes you want to stay?

• Watch Jesus: Notice His expression. Has He remained sitting with authority or is he now leaning in with warmth? Listen to the tone of His voice as He speaks directly to you:

• “You are the salt of the earth”, what is going through your mind? Taste the Salt: Imagine the sharp, life-giving flavor of salt. Reflect on how it preserves and seasons and purifies. Ask yourself: How are you bringing “flavor” or preservation to the world around you right now? Who brings rich flavour to your life? What does being the salt of the earth mean for you?

• When Jesus says “You are the light of the world”, Imagine the light: Picture a city on a hill at dusk, its lights visible for miles. Or see a small lamp being placed on a stand, filling a dark room. What is going through your mind?

• Feel the warmth of the light: Sense the light of Christ reflecting off you. How do you see yourself as a light to others? Who is a light in your life?

• Imagine yourself living in the spirit of Beatitudes and how you can permeate the world with flavour and light. Reflect on how this calls you to action as opposed to being hidden away?​

• What does salt and light mean for you? Can you think of ways you can bring salt and a light to others in a practical way?

As we spend 10 minutes in quiet contemplation, speak to Jesus about areas of your life that feel “insipid” or where you fear losing your “saltiness”. Ask him where you are hiding your light and how you can be more luminous? Ask Jesus to touch your life and show you how your faith can bring flavour and light to yourself and to those around you.