Daily Gospel Reflection
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June 8, 2021
Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
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.”
Immediately after Jesus challenges his followers to embody the beatitudes, he affirms them, saying, “You are the salt of the earth,” and, “You are the light of the world.” In these two statements, Jesus asserts that actively living out the Christian life under the guidelines of the beatitudes is the way in which the goodness of God the Father will be brought into the world.
Jesus’s first declaration places a special responsibility on Christians to preserve their flavor, for it is more valuable than the most treasured spice. Two important virtues for sustaining our flavor in the world are purity and contemplation. We must seek ways to prevent corruption and avoid any form of dilution. We should ask ourselves if we take steps each day to actively maintain custody over our eyes and heart. Do we avoid watching movies with graphic content, or refrain from letting our emotions be manipulated by the latest television show? Also, in order to continually flavor the world with our salt we must seek relationship with God and be constantly refilled in prayer. Do we make efforts to spend time each day with God in contemplative prayer?
In his second assertion, Jesus ensures that if we live out the virtues of purity and contemplation we will radiate his love in the world. We should boldly allow this light to emanate outwards in all of our actions at work, at home, and in all of our friendships. The world needs the transcendent light of the Father, and Jesus assures that if we take measures to radically live out the Christian life, we will be channels of God’s luminous grace.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we so much want to live in the light of your faithfulness. Help us never to become complacent in our journey with you. Guide us to be more giving—better listeners, slower to judge, and champions of others. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Medard or Medardus is a popular saint from northern France. Medard was born around the year 456 to a Frankish noble. His ancient legend describes him as having a twin brother, St. Gilard, who also became a bishop.
At the age of 33, Medard succeeded the previous bishop as Bishop of Vermand. As befits a saintly man, Medard protested the elevated rank of bishop, but the people insisted, so he accepted the responsibilities.
Medard moved his diocese's seat to Noyon, a stronger city, as there were conflicts between the Burgundians and Merovingian kingdoms near his region of France. Medard was purportedly the advisor to the King Clotaire.
Medard is famously the patron saint to be called upon when needing protection from bad weather. His legend tells that, as a child, he was sheltered from a rainstorm by an eagle, which the drawing to the left incorporates.
After Medard's death in 545, the people of France venerated his memory with great fervor and began relying on his heavenly generosity for many different cases. Medard is a patron saint invoked for protection against weather and of toothaches, two common annoyances; and sterility and imprisonment.
If that weren't enough for one saint to handle, Medard is also the patron saint of vineyards, brewers, those suffering from mental illness, and peasants.
St. Medardus, joyful and beloved bishop—pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Medardus is in the public domain. Last accessed March 18, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
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