Today Jesus uses two images to demonstrate how we are to glorify God with our lives: salt and light. Salt and light are readily available to all and that is the first point. The flavor and the energy of God are available to all through the Holy Spirit that He left with us. Taste is the lifeblood of the food we consume and salt is used to enhance that taste, or to make it more. Salt increases the lifeblood of whatever it rests upon. “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste with what can it be seasoned?” The taste is God and we can only lose it if we don’t pay attention to Him resting in and on us. We cannot be seasoned with anything else to increase our purpose; only God can do that. We can entertain all kinds of substitute flavor enhancers and seasonings, but the lifeblood of our saltiness is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us not to lose him or we will be good for nothing. To be able to increase the essence of every encounter and every person we meet, we must let God rest upon us. He flavors our being with increased goodness, faith, love, compassion, mercy, kindness, radiance, joy, and peace. This salt enhances those things in others and allows people to know what also rests upon them. Let the flavor of God rest on you to increase your purpose.
If you really knew me you would know that I love fireflies and I think they are the dancing heartbeat of God. We don’t have them in California (which is some sort of cruel trick), but a friend sent me a video of these dancing heartbeats that filled me with delight (pun intended). Light is a mystery to me, but at the core of it is energy. This energy releases a glow that pierces darkness. Sometimes it is intense and sometimes it is gentle. Sometimes it is hot and sometimes it is warm. Sometimes it is big and sometimes it is small. It comes in various colors: yellow, blue, green, red, white. While the appearance of light changes, the function remains the same, to illuminate or to help us see better. It is hard to hide light, but it can be done with an opaque covering such as pride, lies, self-hate, fear, apathy, jealousy, shame, etc. These opaque coverings keep the dancing heartbeat of God from orbiting our world. They keep us from being able to see things better. They don’t allow illumination to lighten up our lives. When we remove these coverings, we start to pulsate with the radiance of God and that radiance gives others an opportunity to see more clearly. The energy of God burns within us and we show his heartbeat with our lives. Today Jesus calls us to be the dancing heartbeat of God.
May the essence of God that is resting on you bring out your gifts, and may those gifts radiate the glory of God’s energy within you. Season the world with light. It is well with my soul.
Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Lectionary: 580/360
Reading 1 ACTS 11:21B-26; 13:1-3
In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger,
Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them."
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
Responsorial Psalm PS 98:1, 2-3AB, 3CD-4, 5-6
R.(see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Alleluia MT 5:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MT 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."
"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."
No comments:
Post a Comment