St Alphonsus Liguori was born at Naples in 1696. He was renowned as a doctor of both Canon and Civil Law. But he left the legal profession and entered the priesthood. Thereafter, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (The Redemptorists). To foster the Christian life, he applied himself to preaching among the people and writing books on moral theology of which he is considered a master. He was chosen to be bishop, but resigned shortly after to continue his humble priestly work among his confreres. He died in 1787 at the age of 91.
One of Alphonsus's favorite themes was the "love of Christ," and from the perspective of Christ (and his Father) having loved us FIRST, before there even was any creation at all. And then loving us, each as individuals, he created us, he made us in order to share love with us. This also involved his agreeing to be our salvation, our redemption, our sacrificial lamb which would reconcile all of us to his Father and reestablish a good and working relationship between us!
The first reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans tells how Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, to redeem that flesh, and make it possible for us to live not according to the impulses and desires of the flesh which enslave and keep us earthbound, but rather to live according to the higher impulses of the spirit which free us and allow our spirits to soar to the heavens.
The gospel passage reminds us that as individuals and as a group (a Church) we are called to be LIGHT and SALT in the world. We are called to provide a REAL DIFFERENCE in our families, our friendships, our nation and our world by illuminating and flavoring the environment with the very love of God that we first experience, that we as Christians share together, that we feel it right to give away! We do this by cooperating with the grace of the Holy Spirit that is given as a result of the redemption wrought by Jesus' amazing gift of himself!
Heeding the teaching of Jesus, St. Paul and St. Alphonsus, let us today be LIGHT and SALT – because we have heard of God's LOVE FOR US and for all – and we feel moved to do so!
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