Super Bowl Sunday is truly an American phenomenon. Two professional football teams are in “combat” for the championship of American football. Over 140 million people will gather around their televisions to watch one of the most popular televised events in America.
A 30-second commercial during the first Super Bowl in 1967 reportedly cost $42,000.00. Things have changed dramatically. Today, one 30-second commercial costs over $7 million. Half a minute to tell us that if we drink this or drive that, we will be successful.
How contradictory that message is when compared to the message in today’s readings.
Did you hear what Christ called you this morning? What did Jesus say we are?
Each one of us is the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What a compliment Jesus pays each of us. He doesn’t say we are like the salt or like light. He says we are the salt, and we are the light.
In our modern, high-tech age, we do not understand the impact of that flattering compliment.
Salt in the time of Jesus was an extremely valuable commodity. It flavored food, preserved food and was used for healing and purification. People bartered with salt, and it was often used as a means of payment. In fact, the word “salary” is derived from the word salt.
We are used to salt from a saltshaker, so we are unfamiliar with salt losing its flavor. But in the time of Christ, it was common. Seaweed from the ocean or sea was a primary source of salt. It was gathered, cleaned and placed in pots to salt food. The salty seaweed was used again and again until it eventually lost its flavor, became useless and was thrown away.
The salt that Jesus says you are is different. You are salt that never loses its flavor and preserves life.
Jesus also calls you something else. Remember what that was?
You are the light of the world.
Again, He doesn’t say you are like a light. He says you are the light.
When Jesus says, "You are the light of the world,” He is telling you to let the light of your faith burn brightly. Do not hide it. Do not put it under a bushel basket. Do not hide it like jewelry or other valuables. Let your light shine for all to see.
To be the light is to be life-giving, and that is who you are: life-giving.
A little boy named Bobby entered his first science fair when he was in second grade. For his project, he took two small green plants, placed one on a sunny windowsill and the other inside a dark cardboard box.
Each day, the seven-year-old checked the plants and saw firsthand how the one on the windowsill grew with vibrant green leaves, while the one in the box lost its color and began to wither.
At his mother’s suggestion, Bobby cut a hole in the box and placed it by the window so light could reach the plant. Slowly, the plant revived.
Bobby learned that light saves life. Light is life-giving.
In the first reading, Isaiah asks us to be life-giving by going beyond our comfort zone and letting our light “break forth like the dawn.” Not just by talking about doing good deeds, but by doing them: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and homeless, clothe the naked when you see them and do not turn your back on your own.”
Perhaps the hardest thing Isaiah asks us to do is to not to give up on our own family: our siblings, parents, children and other relatives, regardless of what they may have done to us or against us. This is when we truly let our light shine.
After a recent weather disaster, I saw a social media post asking people to pray for those without heat or food. Someone responded, “Don’t just pray for them; help them. Gather blankets, winter coats or donate money.”
My first response was to defend prayer as a genuine form of help. But as I reflected, I had to admit that prayer must be grounded in concrete action, not warm fuzzy sentiment. Prayer must lead to action.
As Catholics, we have a duty to let our light shine in this highly secularized and materialistic society by living according to gospel values. This is much easier said than done. We must stand up for our convictions, even when we disagree with others. And we can disagree without being disagreeable!
As a Church, we are guided by the light of Christ, which upholds the sacredness of every human life. If we are not honoring and following Christ’s teachings, then we are not a light in the world.
The story is told of the little boy who came running into the house in tears after a game of “hide and seek.” His father asked what was wrong. The boy explained that he had hidden so well that no one could find him and eventually his friends gave up and went home.
We, too, should be saddened if we have the light of faith but hide it so well that no one can see it in us. Our faith is meant to be a light against the darkness of sin and evil.
What a compliment Jesus pays each of us, “You are the light of the world.” If only we could grasp the significance of what that truly means.
On this Super Bowl Sunday, don’t eat too much salt, but let the salt remind you that you are the salt of the earth, meant to never lose your flavor and always preserve life.
On this Super Bowl Sunday, don’t be gloomy if your team doesn’t win. Instead, admit that you can still be a light to others and let the light of your faith shine for all to see.
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