The Lord takes care of those who are on fire for love of him, he takes care of those who season their lives and the lives of others with the gifts God has given them. Today, in a very familiar way, we are being called to be salt and light.
Salt is one of those wonderful things that is great in moderation. Too much, and you’ve ruined the dish. Not enough and it’s just bland. But in just the right proportion, the food is perfectly seasoned. Similarly, a fervent witness is a great thing. Too much, and people might turn off your witness. Too little and nobody will even notice what we’re saying. But in the right proportion, a fervent witness draws other people to Christ and to the Church, builds up the body of Christ, and sends us all on the way to salvation.
But when the salt loses its flavor, what good is it? Or when you put a lamp under a bushel basket, what’s the point? The gifts we have been given, we are to give in return. The widow at Zarephath learned that in today’s first reading. She didn’t think she had much, just enough flour and oil to bake a meager cake to provide a last supper for her and her son. But when she gave even what little she had, she was able to eat for a year, her and her son and her guest too.
The Lord takes care of those who are on fire for love of him, he takes care of those who season their lives and the lives of others with the gifts God has given them. Whether we think our gifts are a little or a lot is ultimately meaningless. The only thing that means anything is how willing we are to share them out of love for God and for others. When we do that, the little we have is increased many times over and all for the glory of God.
Today, we are being called to be salt and light. God promises to take care of us when we give.