In addition to being the 5th Sunday of our liturgical year, today is Super Bowl Sunday. Practically everyone I know is planning some activity around watching the Super Bowl tonight. There will be parties and barbeques (if it isn’t too cold). I imagine some people even went out and bought new TVs for the event – I know the TV manufacturers encouraged it. What I like best about the Super Bowl are the commercials. I don’t know much about American football, but I know a good ad when I see one. I suppose at eight million dollars for 30 seconds, advertisers should produce something worth watching. So, for several magic hours we will be inundated with car, tire, clothing, beer and other commercials. They will imply that we will be cool, smart, bold, safe or lovable with their particular products. None of these ads will encourage us to be better people, good examples for others, merciful, just, gracious or steadfast. What a pity.
Unlike the hype of the Super Bowl, our scripture readings today encourage us to reach beyond the glitz and glamour of our secular world, and be salt of the earth and light of the world. How ordinary! Salt is so common and yet so essential. Imagine a Super Bowl party without salted food. Today as in the time of Jesus salt is used for flavoring, preserving and healing. We need salt. And we need to be like salt – flavoring our world with kindness, compassion and faith.
We take light for granted. However, without light nothing would grow and our world would perish. Try to imagine living in a world of darkness. Jesus told his disciples and he tells us that the most valuable light is inner light – the light that shines from us. And he tells us that our “light must shine before others, that they may see [our] good deeds and glorify [our] heavenly Father."
In today’s first reading, Isaiah 58: 7 – 10, the prophet tells us how to become salt and light for our world. When we share our food with hungry people, provide shelter for those who are oppressed and homeless; provide clothing to those who have none and take care of the people in our communities, then, Isaiah tells us, our “light shall break forth like the dawn,” and our “vindication shall go before [us], and the glory of the LORD shall be [our] rear guard.” So, in addition to praying for the Atlanta Falcons, perhaps we should ask Jesus to kindle His light in us so that our light will rise in the darkness.
O God of justice,
you have called your Church
to be the salt of the earth
and the light for the world.
Let the light of your own justice
shine in our lives,
that all may see our good works
and give you the praise and the glory.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
