TWO REAL-LIFE STORIES

Simone Monet:

In the mid-twentieth century, Simone Monet was a young member of the Catholic Action in Montreal. She was deeply involved in various struggles for democracy, for justice, for truth. Later, with her husband Michel Chartrand, she never hesitated to stand up for the rights of those who were most neglected by society. She was always at work in the public eye, fighting for many causes: feminist, pacifist, educational, social, church and state.

Simone's Christian faith gave a special flavor to her struggles for justice, just as salt enhances that taste of nature's bounty from the earth. Charity and justice shone forth onto every position she ever took, just as a streetlight guides our footsteps along the roads or a campfire warms us on a cool night. In this way Simone was salt of the earth and light of the world. Her example still inspires women today on their journey towards justice and equality. Her whole life was that of a Christian who was as committed to her neighbors as she was to the heart of the world itself.

Marcel Callo:

Marcel Callo was born in Rennes (in Normandy, France) on December 6. 1921. From a very young age, he showed exceptional leadership qualities: first in the Scouting movement, then when he worked as a printer, at the forefront of the Young Christian Worker movement. During the Nazi occupation of his country in World War II, he helped many of his people to escape, before he himself was deported to a forced labor camp in Germany. Even there he managed to organize religious services and work as a Christian activist among his companions. These daring activities finally led to his imprisonment on April 19, 1944. The inhuman living conditions of prison made him ill: he died at the age of 23 on March 19, 1945. John Paul II declared him: Blessed" on October 4, 1987.

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

. Try to imagine the many choices that Simone Monet or Marcel Callo must have made to become salt and light in their milieu.



. Do you know other Christian men and women who offer this image of salt and light?



. What choices do you think you might have to make in your life in order to become "salt of the earth" and "light of the world"?



you need to know that this road isn't always fun! We see this challenge in one of the many stories recounted in the Gospels: the conversation between Jesus and "the rich man." The young man is a decent guy: in fact, he keeps all God's commandments just as they were set out by Moses. Nevertheless, he doesn't think he's ready to follow Jesus just yet, "for he had many possessions" (Matthew 19:16-27).

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

. What "riches" in my own life would I be most sorry to lose if I chose to "follow Jesus"?

A TIME TO CHOSE

Each of us creates and expresses the meaning of life through choices, based on certain key values. In some way our values become our greatest assets. Values change and grow with us throughout our lives, especially during intense times and moments of crisis. For example, workaholics who find themselves "burned out" might begin to question some of the values that they hold dear. Students whose applications are turned down by the schools of their dreams might have to revise some of their original career goals. A serious illness may lead someone to question everything about the meaning of life, including their spiritual values and even their faith in God.

Using the language of Information Technology , we could say that the values that we cherish are a little like "software" that we install and that then guides us. And because our "software" is alive - not just some sterile machinery - we are often asked to make difficult choices. For example, how should we reconcile our desire to share with others, on the one hand, with our personal need forened by bugs in the system. To keep our hearts in the right place, to rediscover our inner peace, we have to make choices. Sometimes this may mean changing or upgrading our "software."

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

. What is my most recent experience with "bugs" interfering with my choices for life?

THE KEY TO DEALING WITH BUGS

Pope John Paul II lived on the same planet as we do. He understands the difficult choices that underline his call to become, as a follower of Jesus, "salt of the earth and light of the world." Here is an excerpt from his message at the 16th WYD in 2001.

"There is a widespread culture of the ephemeral that only attaches value to whatever is pleasing or beautiful and it would like us to believe that it is necessary to remove the cross in order to be happy. The ideal presented is one of instant success, a fast career, sexuality separated from any sense of responsibility, and ultimately, an existence centered on self and observes well, my dear young people: this is not the road that leads to true life, but it is the path that sinks into death. Jesus leaves us under no illusions."

Life is not a one-way street. Our values, and the choices they lead us to, can make us or break us. There is a fundamental tension in life: one where all those bugs can overwhelm us. As we look at the following cultural stereotypes (and there are others too), let's try to think more deeply about John Paul II's message for WYD 2001:

. "To be happy, you need to succeed, you need to achieve your goals": healthy development vs. unhealthy selfabsorption".

Yes, personal development is an important aspect of human dignity. However, in a culture that over-emphasizes the individual, the search for prestige or for career advancement at any cost takes precedence over personal growth and freedom. In a society obsessed with success, "winners" are treated like gods. This in turn feeds our culture of competition, to the potential detriment of others, our personal health, family life, our need for leisure, and our inner life. Ina life where all energy is devoted to the Ego, there is hardly any room left for the salt and the light that Jesus talked about in the Gospels.

. "To be happy you need to have fun":

healthy pleasures vs. illusions Laughter and love of life are precious gifts, and relaxation and leisure should never be neglected. On the other hand, sometimes we risk becoming slaves to our hobbies or even to our favorite sports teams. Take fitness: when people push too hard, even healthy exercise can become destructive. Take the seduction of lotteries: when empty dreams take over workday reality, we risk losing a lot.

. "To be happy you need money": financial responsibility vs. selfish materialism

Everyone needs money. especially the poor! But when the lure of wealth becomes more important than our personal well-being and social justice, then we have a serious problem. In the West, for example, the North American way of life and our capitalist heritage have led to the appearance of "the new rich" but also "the new poor." When happiness is equated with material things, then conspicuous consumption becomes the goal in life. How can there be any room left for charity and social justice?

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

. What is my "top ten" list of personal values?

. Can I identify one or two other cultural stereotypes that sometimes cause bugs?

. What attitudes or habits do I need to work on to make sure my life is more on track with my most treasured values?

Rather than having us look down on our culture and the values of our times, Christian faith can inspire us to dive right into the heart of our world and work to promote values that honor the dignity of the human person. With family and friends, at work or at school, while relaxing and enjoying our leisure activities, through scientific progress and economic development - these are all times and places during which we encounter this challenge of Jesus: "You are the salt of the earth.You are the light of the world."

OPEN THE BIBLE

One day, while preaching on the mountain Jesus said:

"You are the salt of the earth; "But if salt lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot." "You are the light of the world. "A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts in under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Mt 5:13- 16)

FOR PERSONAL REFLECTION

. Make a list: How was salt used in daily life and in society long ago? How is it used today?

. Make another list: What were and are the many uses of light?

. What is the mission that Jesus entrusted to his disciples, we who are following in his footsteps? How does this mission flow of the images of salt and light?

from Joyce Hansen, Detroit USA
youthmin@passionist.org