Every seed is given a lunchbox

“You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.”  (Matthew 5:13-14)

Have you ever thought about what it means to be salt or light in this world?

Imagine you cook some wonderful vegetable soup with all the best ingredients.  It slowly simmers for hours and the broth looks very tasty.  But the one thing you’re out of is salt and other spices.  So, you just let the soup simmer and hope for the best.  Once it’s fully cooked you try a taste and, to your disappointment, it’s somewhat tasteless.  So, you search until you find the missing ingredient, salt, and you add just the right amount.  After another half hour of simmering you try a sample and it’s the best soup you’ve ever made.   It’s amazing what salt can do! 

Or imagine going for a walk in the forest and getting lost.  As you search for your way out, the sun sets, and it slowly becomes dark.  It’s overcast so there are no stars or moon.  About a half hour after sunset you find yourself in complete darkness in the middle of the forest.  As you sit there, you suddenly see the bright moon peek through the clouds.  It’s a full moon and the overcast skies are clearing up.  Suddenly, the full moon sheds so much light your way that you’re able to navigate the dark forest again.

These two images provide us with the importance of just a little salt and a little light.  Just a little bit of both changes everything! 

So it is with us in our faith.  The world we live in is dark in so many ways.  The “flavor” of love and mercy is also quite void.  God is calling us to add that little flavor and produce that little light so that others can find their way. 

Like the moon, we’re not the source of light.  We only reflect the light.  God wants to shine through us, and He wants us to reflect His light.  If we’re open to this, He’ll move the clouds at the right time so as to use us in the way He’s chosen.  Our responsibility is to simply be open.

I read an article one time that gave an image of how in nature every seed is given a lunch box as it goes off to begin its growth. The avocado, for example, gets a large lunch box, opens it immediately to gobble up nutrients so it can quickly put down a root and push up leaves.  Its life begins in a competitive world. Other seeds may wait months or years for the right moment, then they’ll nibble their modest lunch and leisurely begin the work of growing.

In Scripture, the Books of Kings are about the Word of God.  With the history of the Kings of Israel and Judea as background, we see that God’s Word is more powerful than the political choices that shape the world.

Because of the precautions we’re taking due to Covid-19, many of us still can’t share the Eucharist yet, so we watch mass on on-line or on TV.  The Word of God is with us.  We may not be dining at the Lord’s table, but we have a lunch box. That’s enough for the seed to grow.  The Word of Matthew tells us we’re salt and light.  These are essentials, but they don’t stand alone.  Salt is a seasoning.  It accompanies, it doesn’t make a meal; light gives itself for another.  My hope is that we be ministered to by the Word in this moment of our history.  Words are calling for justice and equality from our brothers and sisters.  Words that speak of the values of Jesus are challenging the values of other kingdoms.  May the words of our brothers and sisters be salt and light.  Our God gives growth to the seed in ways we don’t understand, but the vine He tends with love, He makes healthy, so that it’ll bear fruit abundantly.