“You are 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... The Gospel According to Matthew 5:13-16*”
Jesus was not beige. We've all seen the color beige, or maybe it's that we see it so much that we're not aware of it. It's that tanish- off-white color that you find throughout big buildings, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Have you ever wondered why this is or who made the decision that this particular shade should be used so frequently? There is a simple answer:
It goes with everything. Jesus was not beige.
Our Salt & Light Blog was inspired by a fantastic passage from the Gospel According to Matthew. It has a lot to say about our presence in the world and perhaps provides something to pray about the next three days of Holy Triduum. We are not called to be beige - to "go along" with bland situations or to contribute to darkness in the world. We are salt and light, says our Lord, but what does that mean? We are called to be salt which brings FLAVOR, and called to be light which brings VISION and GUIDENCE.
Tonight at our Holy Thursday Liturgy we will experience the tenderness and mercy of foot washing, either directly or by witnessing and watching. We do this because Jesus did. And when we "remember" something in our Catholic faith, we are in a sense making it present again. We will love each other as Jesus loved his 12 Disciples and as He loves us!
Do you remember the story of Jesus washing his Disciples feet from the Gospel According to John 13:1-20? Do you remember Peter's reaction, his resistance to Jesus washing him? Jesus responds by telling Peter that unless he is washed by Him, he will have no "inheritance." And later he tells them that he has given them a model to follow. Here's the shocking truth that we sometimes miss in this story: In Jesus' time, a Rabbi would never wash his disciples feet! Jesus' model goes against the expected. Jesus is not beige. The "inheritence" Jesus speaks of is LOVE so pure, so radical, and so unearned and unexpected, that the world will experience it as SALT and LIGHT! Flavor and Vision that bring life and guidence into our schools, work places, activities and most importantly, our homes.
As we journey these next few days leading to Easter, may we embrace our call to be vibrant, not beige; to be salt and light! Perhaps this starts with small and unexpected acts of service at home?
Three suggestions: A floor swept without being asked, so someone else can relax. A family outing for ice cream, just because. A hand-written letter to your sibling, mom, dad, or friend, who does that?
Can you think of some more ways to be salt and light? Please do comment below and share ways that we can bring flavor, color, light, and love to each other.