In today’s first reading from Isaiah 58:7-10 we hear of the Lord calling us to be charitable and compassionate to those in need.  Asking us to “share our bread” and “shelter the oppressed and homeless”.  The Scripture continues, “if you remove…oppression…and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness.”

   In today’s Gospel from Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus also speaks of light.  Speaking to His disciples He says, “You are the light of the world.” They do not “light a lamp and then put it and then put it under a bushel basket. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds.”  Comparing what The Lord was saying to Isaiah and what Jesus is saying to the disciples, we can see that in order to be the light, we have a responsibility to care for our brothers and sisters.  The challenge may not be in responding, it may be in “how” to respond.  Each day we will all likely see someone on a corner or in front of a store asking for money or some sort of assistance.  Are we called to respond each and every time we face someone in this situation?  Perhaps we give regularly to St. Vincent de Paul or Crossroads Mission as they are in the ministry of feeding, clothing and sheltering those in need; is this an adequate response?  Ultimately these are questions only God can answer through our prayer and contemplation.  It is up to our conscience to discern what we must each do within our own abilities to help those in need.

   It would be good practice to consider the things that may give us pause in responding.  Are we thinking of our own selfish needs?  What must I give up in order to help someone who has so little?  Steak for lunch?  Tickets to the movies?  That new pair of designer shoes?  If any of these are keeping us from answering God’s call, we may just find ourselves left in the dark.