Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: In our Gospel, today, Jesus uses the simple images of salt and light in asking the disciples, in asking us, to reflect on our lives. I have often preached on this Gospel using the image not of the Sermon on the Mount but of Jesus talking with his disciples one evening as they rested at an inn. They have traveled with him and Jerusalem in not far away and Jesus isn’t sure that they are ready for what is ahead, he isn’t sure their answer is “yes.” How can he help them trust in their relationship?
 
Then an idea comes to mind. He calls them together. Before he speaks he looks at each one of them and then says, “You are the salt of the earth! But what if salt loses it flavor? What is then good for?” Then he looks at each of them intently again and says. “You are the light of the world! People don’t put a lamp under a bushel basket, they put it on a stand so that it gives light to the whole room. In the same way, your light must shine, your flavor must be tasted!”
 
Now I know I am being a bit free and easy with Jesus’ words but the point is that in order for us to say “yes” to God we need to trust in the gifts and talents God has given us. We need to realize that we have something to offer no matter how ordinary our gifts, abilities and talents seem. Salt and light were everyday staples of life, yet as Jesus tells us they were also very valuable and so are we. It is up to us. We can hide our light, we can lose our flavor or we can give our light and add our flavor to life!
 
Perhaps the first place to start is to begin our day asking God to let our faith not rest on human wisdom but on the power of God so that our flavor isn’t lost and our light shines!
 
Have a great Sunday everyone and may your team win or if you don’t have a team just numbers may your numbers win!