Solomon (not his real name) is a Congolese college student whom Greg met in Bukavu. Despite his young age, Solomon has great wisdom about the situation in the Congo. As you read his insights, keep in mind his original language is a tribal language, but he has learned French and English.
A Christian, Salt of the Earth, Light of the World
Matthew 5:13-16
13. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
14. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
15. “Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house.”
16. “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your father who in heaven.”
Dear Christian of Bukavu, today Jesus gives you a new name: salt, light of Bukavu.
As light, he sends you in Bukavu; a city full of darkness. He sends you to shine and light will appear again.
The darkness that Bukavu has is the war, injustice, corruption, rap, discrimination, poverty, famine. Remember that there life became a Calvary.
The light is your life full of hope, full of change. The change that preaches the God’s will.
As a salt, he sends you in Bukavu, a city where the life’s taste have already disappeared because of a tough life, because of a country that doesn’t promise anything to the people. Because of a country that pours the blood of innocents.
Jesus sends you there as a salt and then, the taste of life is going to appear again.
The salt you are, is going to be the new person determinated to work for the triumph of Jesus.
Light changes darkness into light, a light that allows people to work, to act, to do activities safely.
Jesus asks you to be a light and shine so that sins end. He asks you to shine to those people who are in war, in corruption, in injustice. He asks you to shine to poors, widowers and orphans and then light will appear to them and their lives will change.
The same voice that called Peter, Matthew and John: follow me, is calling you today for a high mission.
That voice is calling you to be salt and light of Bukavu.
What do you do with your time, your life, your skills, your strength, your work?
Think about these thoughts of writers:
“I just have what I gave.”
“We bring there up stairs what we gave here down.”
“The river doesn’t drink its water,
The plant doesn’t eat its flowers,
a generous heart gives freely.”
Your time, your life, your skills, your strength, your work can change lives of people in Bukavu.
Through your time, your life, your skills, your strength, your work, Jesus can be known.
Discover first the need.
There is a need in Bukavu. A need that requires your time, your life, your skills, your strength, your work.
What is your name?
Are you a father, mother, a brother, a sister, a grandmother or a grandfather?
You must have one name among these.
Remember that these names make from you an unlimited person.
Remember that these names open you to the world.
If you want, you can be a father, mother, a brother, a sister, a grandmother or a grandfather of millions of people.
If you want you can be like Jesus who devoted his time, his life, his kills and his strength for the world’s change.
Jesus that became brother of the universe.
Can people watch Jesus in your time, life, work?
Are you productive or unproductive?
Matthew 3:10
“And the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Have a look on people of Bukavu attached by sins, tough life, by politic that oppresses them, by wedding where the wives are slaves, by famine while Jesus free already all the people and wants now to see everybody free.
Can you participate to Jesus’s mission of freeing people?
That can give sense to your life and the joy and taste of life can appear to others and can also change the world image.
You have been sent in the world to produce fruits.
The fruits that testify the presence of Jesus in your life.
Fruits that announce Jesus.
Fruits that save lives.
Fruits that spread Jesus.
Ask God to tell you in what you could be useful to others.