In the Marketplace

Acts 18:1–8

“After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.”

No matter what our vocation we are marketplace ministers placed by God to be salt and light to the world as our Lord Jesus taught, just like Sts. Paul, Aquilla, Priscilla, Timothy, Silas, Titius, and Crispus in today’s verses. The Lord reminds us of who we are in this dim and bland, spoiling, fallen and broken world, lest we forget our purpose and calling, the reason why we are here: "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before all, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matt 5:13–16).” Salt isn’t only a flavour enhancer, that makes food and nourishment palatable, it is also a natural preservative and so we ought to stand firm and keep the faith to be effective in our lives while here on earth that we may make it easier for people to swallow the Good News that in humanity’s darkened hearts (Eph 4:18), deception of the enemy (John 8:44), and the encrustation of sin (Heb 12:1) have made it objectionable to many that they even become abusive (v. 6), spurning our words and hating the Lord. The Apostle John tells us that the world, however, is fading away and our message is of enduring peace and eternal life in Christ, “for all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God remains forever (I John 2:16-17).” We are light and so people see us, let us keep it that way and live a life well-lived of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, against which none can argue against (Gal 5:22-23) and that we glorify God where He has planted us, to take up our cross and follow Christ wherever we may go (Luke 9:23). The world demands a gray kind of conformity, we don’t break from the mould when we do not emphasise the difference Christ’s message makes in our own hearts, words, deeds, and lives. It is easier to follow the world, but God will keep us and help us to truly follow Him and fuel us to shine His light to all, for God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ Jesus (II Cor 4:6).”