February 5, 2017 - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany - Salt and Light

When can a well-used metaphor lose its saltiness?  When might it become too salty?

The today's gospel lesson calls to mind a story my wife and I frequently remind each other about at important moments in our life. The story is that a sitar player (in some versions, a lute player), discouraged in his meditation practice, goes to the Buddha to ask for instruction.

“What happens when you tune your instrument too tightly?” the Buddha asked.
“The strings break,” the musician replied.

“And what happens when you string it too loosely?”

“When it’s too loose, no sound comes out,” the musician answered. “The string that produces a tuneful sound is not too tight and not too loose.”

“That,” said the Buddha, “is how to practice - not too tight and not too loose.”

In her sermon Pastor Michelle wanted us to keep in mind that a little bit of salt and a little bit of life can go a long way and to make sure we don't burn out or "not be worth our salt". She quoted Thomas Merton "When we try to do too much we do violence to our souls".

Pastor Michelle also spoke of three people who exemplified, in her mind, being salt of the earth and light of the world. The actions she detailed were simple and meaningful and, like salt and light, the stuff of life, what is needed to thrive. Her descriptions emphasized the sharing of the spirit in ways the people she spoke of did not advertise about themselves. The important emphasis is the spirit of God that works through us and in our actions.

Others have reflected on salt of the earth and light of the world.  

Reflecting on the meaning of “salt of the earth,” the Pope spoke today of the importance of being “liberated from the corrupting degeneration of worldly influences.”

“The mission of Christians in society is to give ‘flavor’ to life with the faith and love that Christ has given us, and at the same time to keep away the polluting germs of egoism, of envy, of malicious gossip, and so on,” the Pope said. “These germs ruin the fabric of our communities, which instead should shine as places of hospitality, of solidarity and of reconciliation.”

In Adult Forum those gathered were complimenting Sam on the gluten-free bread he made for today's communion.

It was agreed that Sam was a great example of being the cinnamon of the world.