Today’s Gospel says: “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” These two statements refer to us – to you and me. This is what we are in God’s eyes; this is what Jesus wants us to be. The first reading from Isaiah tells us specifically when we are “salt”and “light.” It says we are salt and light when we share our bread with the hungry, when we shelter the oppressed and homeless,when we clothe the naked and when we do not turn our back on our own. This reading reminds us that we are all sisters and brothers; we are all children of God; some may be more fortunate in life and others may find life difficult, but we are meant to lookout for one another. This is one reason why many times we may be frustrated because we don’t know what to do to relieve the suffering of another person. It is an awesome calling that we have received, but God wouldn’t call us unless he knew that we would respond and work to help our sister or brother.
Please keep our Young Adults in your prayers. Joe Nuzzi andI will be accompanying a group of 45 to Mount Alvernia Retreat Center in Wappingers Falls, New York next weekend. This is the fourth Young Adult Retreat that we have had here at St. Francis. It is a great weekend and we are grateful for your prayers.
Reservations are already coming in for our November Pilgrimage to Fatima, Spain and Lourdes. Information is available at the reception desk or by emailing me at areitz@stfrancisnyc.org.
-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.