“Jesus said to the disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer goof 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, but they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”—Matthew 5: 13-15
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Today’s Gospel, continuing from the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to us and the purpose for which we are created.
“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, but they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
God places a gift/purpose/talent within each of us. We all have a purpose, a light to offer and share outward and into world. What is your gift? What is your born-with blessing? What is it the world needs, that you have, and feel spirit-compelled to offer and share?
Maybe we know ours. Maybe we are still discerning—but the gift and blessing is still there; and it is meant for us to share. By sharing, by offering and gifting freely of ourselves what others need, and we have, we build our community and fellowship. This is why all our gifts, talents, and blessings are different—many parts, one body that is an ordered human society. When we rescind or keep back the gifts and purposes we are meant to live, the body suffers. Society, culture, community—it misses something that is essential, and without, health and order of the body is demeaned.
Maybe, in our present, we live to insular and guarded—as well as separated—from the communal body with which we are meant to be and live as part. How could we not be? We live in our isolated homes, can order anything we can imagine and have it front-door delivered—nearly anytime and anyplace. Our culture is built on economy, not community, and we prioritize spending and investment on lowest cost and greatest return—which most often is outsourcing to entities that have no presence or interest in our community, but simply reduce and eliminate communal competitors. Living isolated and prioritizing self, the body suffers and—eventually, if not immediately—we do too.
What do you have to offer? What do you have to give—whatever the gift, charism, and blessing imbued within us?
Give it. Share it. Live the purpose for which we are created—grand or simple as it may be.
Should we not, as salt, what purpose for us remains? If we do not season, if we do not cure—enrich and preserve Creation which we touch—to what end does our life serve?
When failing in our purpose, despair of sensing no reason to ourselves, should we be surprised when we perceive that the world disregards us and tramples us beneath its feet? Is this not effect, spiritual and psychological, when we fail to affirm—by service and acts—our value and our use?
We are all born with value. We are all born for use—with blessings, gifts, and talents—that world and our communal body need and are within us and God means for to share.
What do you have to give? What do you have to share?
Give it. Live it. Share it. Live your light so that others may see. This is what world and our communal body needs, and in offering piece and purpose of our creation into the greater whole—world and place in which we exist is made more-whole and healthy by.
“You are the salt of the earth.” World and human body are enriched and made more whole when we offer and live God-purposes for which we’re made.
