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Light, Salt and Leaven
Dear St. Hedwig Family:
Jesus tells us that we are to be the salt of the earth, light of the world and leaven in the dough
(Mt 5:13-14; Mt 13:33). That means we are to convert hearts and make the world better. The
Lord has chosen you and me to be his representatives in a world of darkness, indifference, and
confusion. He has empowered us the gifts of the Holy Spirit and sends us into battle. Jesus also
says that the harvest is plenty, but the laborers are few. The Lord wants all of us to work in his
vineyard, to pull up the weeds, and plant good seeds that will bear much fruit for his kingdom.
We need to remember that our life is not our own. We have been redeemed by Christ and
belong to him. Bishop Robert Barron often says, “Your life is not about you.” In a world of self-
absorption, we are called to focus and Jesus and use our skills and gifts for his glory, our
sanctification, and the salvation of souls.
What does being salt, light and leaven look like? Sometimes I will go into the church and pray
and I often see people come in at different times of day and night to pray, light a candle, and
spend time with our Lord. I am very inspired by such people by their acts of devotion and
charity. By their prayers and holy way of life, they are making an impact in the world. Prayers
are powerful, and holiness is beautiful. We bear witness to Christ by our faithfulness to the Lord
and our way of life. When people see us attend Mass, go to Confession, and perform acts of
charity, they will be inspired to do the same. Evangelization does not always have to be overt
but can be subtle. Actions speak louder than words. We are called to be counter-cultural, to be
different in a society where there is tremendous pressure to conform. We are called to change
the world and not the other way around.
We should look for opportunities to talk about our faith or invite people to Mass or to one of
our many events. We can offer to pray for people on the spot. Many times, people will come up
to me to share with me a difficulty in their life and I will offer to pray for them and give them a
blessing right then and there. Another way to proclaim the Gospel is to be joyful. In a world
filled with anxiety and suffering we can lift people up by a smile and kind word. We can also
evangelize just by wearing a necklace with a cross, having a car rosary or bumper sticker, and
displaying religious images on our desk at work. Perhaps we can have some blessed prayer
cards or medals to give out at the right time. Secularism and atheism are rampant, and the Holy
Spirit is calling us to share a different narrative – that is the hope, healing, and peace in Christ.
With much love and care,
Fr. Quan Tran
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