“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?’” (Matthew 5:13) A topic of discussion in my education recently has been trying to find a balanced approach to the work of inter-religious dialogue and evangelism. On the one hand, we must remain totally faithful and steadfast in our faith and the beliefs of the Catholic faith. If we were to lose that grounding in the truth of Christ, we would become as salt without taste to those around us. On the other hand, evangelism and dialogue require that you open up yourself to the dignity found in another. In order to truly encounter another, both must be open and willing to receive what the other brings to the relationship. The balance between these is found precisely in the grounding that is the gift of our faith, the treasure of salvation which we know we must share. In imitation of Christ, we must walk unapologetically before those who would convict us with a jeer of disregard, and unapologetically towards those who are open and searching for the treasure which is found in those with authentic and unwavering faith.
“You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) The light which we can bring to others lies within us, just as the light which fills a room has its source in the lamp. To begin to bring light to another, it is not necessarily needed at the beginning to try and sort out the dense jungle that might arise in theological debate. Rather, just as Christ’s first impression on many was as a presence of healing and love, this Sunday’s first reading tells us how to share our light: “Thus says the Lord: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn.” (Isaiah 58:7-8) The balance of evangelism is found in this: bring to your neighbour the love which you have found in Christ, and then point them towards where that love has come.
Marc Berube – St. Joseph Seminary, Edmonton, Alberta.
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