Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Church
Jesuit Churches: Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph de Anchieta, Priest
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a charge: “You are the light of the world. . . . Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Jesus, who is the refulgence of the Father’s glory (Heb 1:3), desires that we reflect God’s glory in our own lives and so lead others to glorify God.
The saints like those we celebrate today reflect God’s glory by their light. Ephrem, the great hymn-writer of the Syrian church, does so especially through his poetry and music, written to sing God’s praises and to draw many into the beauty of the eternal light. Joseph de Anchieta, called “the apostle of Brazil” reflects God’s glory through his missionary zeal and dedication to the native peoples.
The faithfulness and generosity of the widow of Zarephath, whose story we hear in the first reading today, shines out in a simpler but no less powerful way, as she obeys the word of the man of God and hosts the prophet Elijah for over a year. For us, perhaps, her example of simple fidelity can encourage us to let God's light shine through us in similar ways.
Today, let us pray that like the saints and holy men and women of every age, we might shine with the reflected light of God’s glory through our actions and thus lead others to sing his praises.