It is a certain truth that if God in his providence exterminated every evil deed at once, killed every evil-doer, the final sum of goodness would be less. We have our Lord’s own   words for it; there would be diminution. Goodness itself, sanctity itself, is fostered by the    proximity of evil. As Saint Augustine outs it so well: it pleased God to make good come out of evil rather than to abolish all evil.

God could have abol­ished all evil in his omnipotence; he did not; he did the better thing; he made good come out of evil, he makes sanctity come out of it; makes martyrs through the cruelty of man, and gives his Church the most glorious traditions of fortitude and courage through the very presence of enemies in her midst and around her walls. When the great day of harvest comes sanctity will be found to be so great and so high by very reason of the wickedness that encom­passed it.

Our lives are constantly bound up with those of other people in some way or another. Perhaps those people fail in many things, but they are in some way a portion of our own lives; they partake of the graces we possess. “The faithless husband,” says Saint Paul, “will be sanctified through the believing wife.” The children of believers are sanctified through the very fact of their paternity. One person in a family may be the salvation of the whole family, though it may not be given to him to see the final issues and the ulti­mate results. But there is the fact – an absolute cer­tainty, goodness inevitably produces goodness; it is unconquerable, it cannot be stifled, it has greater ramifications than evil can ever have … One saint outweighs a hundred, a thousand, perhaps a million sinners. The sanctity of one saint prevails over the sinfulness of a thousand sinners. Sin is negative; sanc­tity, positive. Sanctity is more powerful than sin; sanc­tity is, in fact, the only real power.

Dom Anscar Vanier  OSB.

The post To be Salt and Light… first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fr Ignatius gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Jun 09, 2020, on how Christians should be the salt and light of the world, salt preserving the world against immorality and light in that we possess, live by and spread the light of truth and good morals throughout the world. He points to the widow Zarephath in the reading today and the saints, King Louis IX of France and St. John the Almoner of Alexandria all of whom generously fed others at their own expense, which resulted in many blessings from God even the working of miracles.

King St. Louis of France – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_IX_of_France

St. John the Almoner of Alexandria – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Merciful

Ave Maria!

Mass: St. Ephrem – Opt Mem
Readings: Tuesday 10th Week of Ordinary Time – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/060920.cfm
1st: 1ki 17:7-16
Resp: psa 4:2-3, 4-5, 7-8 0
Gsp: mat 5:13-16

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1088&r=1620

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/90378558559/videos/4308476419177378
and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCdfp6O4_ks

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Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jun 10, 2025, on how Christians, like St. Paul, must live as salt and light to spread the gospel through faith and example.

Father reflects on the readings for Ordinary Time after Pentecost, focusing on St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1:18-22) and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13-16). He explains that St. Paul’s faithfulness reflects God’s unwavering Word, describing Jesus as the “yes and amen” to God’s promises, fulfilled through the Holy Spirit given at Pentecost and in baptism (CCC 1257). Christians are called to be “salt of the earth,” preserving moral goodness and adding flavor to life through faith, and “light of the world,” shining through good deeds to spread the gospel. Father stresses that while clergy preach, all believers must share the faith, as seen in Psalm 119:130, where God’s Word gives understanding. He warns that failing to live this faith renders it useless, like salt without savor, urging Christians to live authentically to enlighten others, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:16. Through baptism, the Holy Spirit dwells within us (CCC 1265), enabling intimacy with God now, not just in heaven. Father encourages living the gospel boldly to prevent the world from remaining in darkness.

For Further Reading
2 Corinthians 1:18-22 – NAB – St. Paul’s faithfulness to God’s Word – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/1?18
Matthew 5:13-16 – NAB – Salt and Light Parables – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5?13
Psalm 119:130 – NAB – God’s Word Gives Understanding – https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?130
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1257 – Baptism’s Necessity and Grace – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1257
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1265 – Effects of Baptism – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm#1265
Catechism of the Catholic Church #698 – Holy Spirit as Seal – http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/698.htm

00:00 – Opening Prayer
00:10 – Readings Context
00:56 – St. Paul’s Mission
01:36 – Holy Spirit’s Gift
02:38 – Salt and Light
03:37 – Gospel in Practice
05:30 – Shining as Light
07:18 – Faithful Living Call

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 10th Week of Ordinary Time – Wkdy
Readings:  – http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061025.cfm
1st: 2co 1:18-22
Resp: psa 119:129-133, 135
Gsp: mat 5:13-16

More on the Readings: http://dev.airmaria.com/r?m=1414

Also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/158sXZauK7/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/0WEw6JkzquQ

The post Spreading the Gospel Through Faithful Action – Jun 10 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence first appeared on AirMaria.com.