5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Cycle A
February 9,
2014 4:00 and 5:30pm
Saint Margaret Parish, Bel Air
Salt in Food
I
seldom add salt to food.
We all
know what the medical profession says about limiting the amount of sodium in
our diet. Most food needs some salt, but
I rarely add more to what is already in it.
But,
every August, I find myself using the salt shaker. I enjoy a simple tomato sandwich: slices of vine-ripe
August tomato, mayonnaise on the bread, a slice of cheddar cheese, and
definitely a dash of salt on the tomato.
The
salt brings out the wonderful taste of the tomato. It just isn’t quite as good without the salt.
Those
who like to cook tell me how important salt is.
Just the right amount brings out the full flavor of the beef or green beans
or whatever, but too much salt can ruin the taste.
We Are Salt
Our use of salt on
food helps us to appreciate today’s gospel.
Jesus tells us
that we are “the salt of the earth.” The idea is that we are to flavor and enhance
the world.
Just as salt does
for food, we are to bring out the best in those around us. So, parents are salt by helping their
children develop their math skills or by working with them on their reading.
Teachers and
guidance counselors are salt by guiding young people into the extra-curriculars
that will develop them well – the school newspaper, or drama, or lacrosse,
whatever. We can be salt by listening carefully
to a spouse or friend, helping them to clarify what their upset is all about,
and then assisting them in figuring out how they might best express themselves.
It is important to
remember that ordinary salt is something we seldom notice. We never say: “Wow, that salt really tastes good!”
Instead, we say: “That fried chicken was great!” If it is the right amount, the salt enhances
and draws the best out of the food but draws no attention to itself.
That is an
important feature of salt. Jesus wants
us to have this same feature.
We Are Light
Jesus also tells
us that we are to be “the light of the
world.”
Well, we don’t sit
and look at a light bulb and we definitely should not look directly at the
sun. Instead, we look at what light
illumines.
So, something like
being salt, as light we are not to be the center of attention. Instead, we are to light up what is beyond us
and enable others to see certain things.
Maybe it is the
light of an insight, when we try to guide a young adult on a relationship
issue. Maybe it is the light of lifting
up the good possibilities that someone still has instead of just focusing on
their mistakes and failures.
Maybe it is
pointing out the light instead of cursing the darkness in general. Instead of just harping on the bad things is
our society and world, we can lift up persons who give generously of their time
in Habitat for Humanity and things like that.
Pope Francis
recently gave an interview to a journalist who is a non-believer, probably an
agnostic. And the Pope never put him
down for not believing.
Instead, he
affirmed the good things this man is doing and said we meet and are one in
doing good. That’s a way to be light in
today’s world and it is a good example for us maybe in dealing with a son or
daughter or others who have fallen away from the practice of the faith.
Conclusion
So, Jesus uses some simple images to describe how he wants us to be his
disciples. Both salt and light focus
beyond themselves, not on themselves.
And both are very positive in the way they act. Helpful images and lessons for us today!
