Is. 58:7-10; Ps. 112:4-9; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; Mt.5:13-16

The just man is a light producing the fruit of good deeds that glorify our heavenly Father.  The acts of a just man is from the light of Christ coming to serve the needs of the poor and our poverty is both corporal and spiritual.  Born of both body and soul our bodies hunger to be nurtured and sustained but our soul hungers for a greater need, for the truth of God.  Our justice comes from the Lord as we bring our gift of self to serve him in our spiritual and corporal works of mercy. 

It is in giving that we receive the “vindication” before God who will guard our going and our coming.  Ever wonder “does the Lord hear my prayer?”  At death will we come before the Lord and hear those dreadful words, “who are you?”  And he will say to us either “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it to me” or “Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me”.  What is our gift to the Lord this day?  The just man is ready to see God coming in the stranger.  Our gift to the Lord is how we respond to the messenger of God before us for we do not know when it may be an angel of God who is testing our love of him.  Have you ever encountered an angel of God? 

Years ago, in the 1980’s, when as a youth group sponsor, we took a group of youth to Garner State Park as a retreat experience.  On the way back home, I was down to the last ten dollars for gas and no credit card for backup.  I was worried with the gas left and ten dollars we would not make it home to the Rio Grande Valley, another 250 miles to go.  We had stopped at the Alamo in San Antonio so the kids could tour.  Looking for bathrooms my son and I walked to a plaza close by and found some bathrooms.  As each of us went into a stall he said, “Dad, I found a penny.”  Looking down at my feet I noticed an old wallet.  When I opened it there was no identification and it was pretty much empty except for a hundred dollar bill.  I said to my son, “I found a hundred dollars!”  The place was empty so we left back to the group. 

Returning to the group, I was sitting on the wall with the group and the area was packed with people walking the streets.  I then notice an old man come out of the crowd.  He was dressed in worn faded clothes, had a beard and his face was filled with wrinkles.  He walked directly to me and just extended his hand without saying a word.  At that moment I thought, God you answered my prayer but now you are asking for me to share your blessings with this man.  I opened my wallet and gave him my ten dollars, thinking this is my tithe in return.  The old man turned without a word and walked back into the crowd.  I tied to keep my eye on him but he just seemed to vanish and my heart and soul felt like I had just encountered an angel of God.  We arrived home safely but to this day the impression of that experience remains as a reminder of Hebrews 13:1 “Let brotherly love continue.  Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.” 

The just man’s justice comes from love of God and love of neighbor.  Self is regarded as an instrument of this love from who the light comes in darkness.  The light brings us the Spirit and power to do marvelous deeds for the Lord and the Lord is ready to say “Here I am!”  Turn to the Lord for his love and mercy endures forever and in weakness we shall see the light of life.  It is then that we become the salt of the earth and a beacon of light for others.