Jun
10
Salt & Light
June 10, 2008 |
We’ve all heard today’s gospel multiple times. It’s from Matthew 5 and continues the Sermon on the Mount. Today’s particular passage has Christ instructing us that we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world;” that we’re not to lose our taste or allow our light to be hidden under a basket; that we are to have others see our good deeds and glorify our heavenly Father.
We’ve all heard it multiple times, but how many of us try to live it, each and every day?
Do others, especially those closest to us, see our heavenly Father in us? What do our actions, thoughts and words say about the flavor of our salt or the brightness of our light? Do we live as agents of God’s will? Do we walk the path of Christ, allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, and invite others to join us, whether explicitly or simply by example?
The other part of today’s liturgy illustrates what Christ meant. Today’s first reading (1 Kings 17) continues the story of Elijah, one of the great men of all time whose salt was full of vibrant flavor and whose light shown before all men. In today’s reading, he is feeding the woman and her son with only a “handful of flour” and a “little oil” in a jug. He not only feeds them all that day, but for an entire year off of that handful of flour and that little oil in the jug.
To me, the incredible point about this story is that when Elijah comes across this woman, she was preparing to die (whether from hunger or suicide, it is unclear). Yet, Elijah acted as God’s agent and allowed God to use him to save this woman and her son.
Who does God put into our lives for us to act as their Elijah? Do we allow God to work through us to reach others? Do we allow God to help others by what we do and say?
We must allow God to use us to bring others to him. It is all part of keeping our salt flavorful and our light bright.
