Salt and Light

 

 

1   Shout out, do not hold back! 
          Lift up your voice like a trumpet! 
     Announce to my people their rebellion, 
          to the house of Jacob their sins. 
2   Yet day after day they seek me 
          and delight to know my ways, 
     as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness 
          and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; 
     they ask of me righteous judgments, 
          they delight to draw near to God. 
3   “Why do we fast, but you do not see? 
          Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” 
     Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, 
          and oppress all your workers. 
4   Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight 
          and to strike with a wicked fist. 
     Such fasting as you do today 
          will not make your voice heard on high. 
5   Is such the fast that I choose, 
          a day to humble oneself? 
     Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, 
          and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? 
     Will you call this a fast, 
          a day acceptable to the LORD?

6   Is not this the fast that I choose: 
          to loose the bonds of injustice, 
          to undo the thongs of the yoke, 
     to let the oppressed go free, 
          and to break every yoke? 
7   Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 
          and bring the homeless poor into your house; 
     when you see the naked, to cover them, 
          and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 
8   Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, 
          and your healing shall spring up quickly; 
     your vindicator shall go before you, 
          the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 
9   Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; 
          you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

     If you remove the yoke from among you, 
          the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 
10  if you offer your food to the hungry 
          and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, 
     then your light shall rise in the darkness 
          and your gloom be like the noonday. 
11  The LORD will guide you continually, 
          and satisfy your needs in parched places, 
          and make your bones strong; 
     and you shall be like a watered garden, 
          like a spring of water, 
          whose waters never fail. 
12  Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; 
          you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; 
     you shall be called the repairer of the breach, 
          the restorer of streets to live in.

Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)

SojournerTruth

LATIMORE, Kelly

2018

Tokoma, Washington

United States

 

Notes:

To purchase prints and other works by Kelly Latimore, visit https://kellylatimoreicons.com/

"I started painting icons in 2011 while I was a member of the Common Friars from 2009-2013. Our collective work was about being more connected: to ourselves, each other, our surrounding community and the land. This manifested itself as a place called “The Good Earth Farm” where we held weekly services and meals, and grew produce for our community and local food pantries. 

Iconography has since become a practice of more considerations: of color and light, of brush stroke and form, symbol and meaning...However, I do not wish to approach Iconography as an art form that simply follows an inherited tradition, knowledge and practice. I want it to be a creative process, meditation, and practice that brings about new self knowledge for the viewer and myself. Who are the saints that are among us here and now?

I was not taught by a traditional Iconographer, and so to some, I am breaking many rules. There are icons here that people may find theologically unsound and wrong, or for others, helpful and inspiring. I think both reactions are important. My hope is that these icons do what all art can potentially do, which is, to create more dialogue. 

The other may have something to teach us about what we know, about who God is, the world we live in and who are our neighbors. This is the real work of being human and of art. Being more present."
[from: https://kellylatimoreicons.com/about-2/ ] 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May the light of your soul guide you.

May the light of your soul bless the work you do 

with the secret love and warmth of your heart … 

May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal

to those who work with you and to those

who see and receive your work.

~ John O'Donohue

 

 

 

 

 

If we are not active as part of a whole,

working toward a higher goal,

we will deteriorate inwardly and outwardly.

Only if our hearts are in a task greater than ourselves

will we thrive in earthly matters too.

Society will deteriorate, physically and spiritually,

unless each of its members has a task to fulfill

for the sake of the common good.

~ Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barb and Tom Scripps hosted our Dine Around gathering on Sunday.

 

My contribution was a strawberry rhubarb pie decorated with groundhogs.

 

Susan Fitzwilson (front) joined us for Bunco on Tuesday evening!

She is holding the bear pin passed to bunco winners.

 

Happy Late Birthday for Sondra Kellogg at Bonefish on Thursday.

Table decorations by Kimra Perkins.

 

Kimra Perkins and I holding the groundhog cookies I made for Sondra.

They weren’t quite as successful as the ones I made for the pie on Sunday.

 

 

 

Jen Volmer was my guest at Rotary on Friday.

She can’t wait to join us!

 

Happy 3rd Birthday, MEISHI!

Robin Sakamoto, Shuto, Reina, MEISHI, and Yushi Sakakibara, and Kei Sakamoto in the back.

Shuto and Meishi will be joined by another brother in April!

 

 

 

… And then I feel the sun itself

as it blazes over the hills,

like a million flowers on fire —

clearly I’m not needed,

yet I feel myself turning

into something of inexplicable value.

~ Mary Oliver *

 

 

 

February 5, 2023 Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - Year A

 

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

*  From “The Buddha’s Last Instruction,” by Mary Oliver

 

 

2When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  5so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

6Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written, 
     “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 
          nor the human heart conceived, 
     what God has prepared for those who love him” — 
10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.  13And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

14Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. 
16  “For who has known the mind of the Lord 
          so as to instruct him?” 
But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)

  Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shine

MOYERS, Mike

Matthew 5:13-20

https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20230204770062193&code=ACT&RC=57144&Row=16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 58:1–9a [9b–12] 

Psalm 112:1–9 [10] 

1 Corinthians 2:1–12 [13–16] 

Matthew 5:13–20

 

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
“You are the light of the world.  Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5: 13-16

THE WORD:

Unsalted popcorn and an electrical power outage are all that we need to appreciate Jesus’ message in today's Gospel reading (the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount). Through the images of salt and light, Jesus impresses upon his listeners the vocation of Christians: As I am salt and light to the world, so you, as my disciples, must reflect me to the world.

Salt and sun, of themselves, are not good for very much and can even be harmful.  Their value is realized only when they mix or interact with other things.  Their addition brings out the fullness of whatever they come in contact with.

A handful of salt brings out the natural flavor in every kind of food, from filet to popcorn.  The four ounces of salt in our bodies enable our muscles to contract, our blood to circulate, our hearts to beat.  Salt purifies and softens, cleans and preserves.  Salt is an important element in making glass, building roads, manufacturing soap and shampoo, bleaching paper and cooling nuclear reactors.  Salt is used both in freezing and in de-icing.  There are over 14,000 uses of salt – but of and by itself, salt is useless.  Eating a handful of salt does not taste particularly good – it might even make you sick to your stomach. 

Light’s true beauty is realized only when we look away from its source and toward what it illuminates.  Light transforms the cold terror of night into the warm assurance of day.  Light enables us to discover, to study, to discern, to behold the beauty of our world and the wonders of God’s creation.  Light warms, nurtures, sustains, reveals, cheers.

Salt is perhaps the humblest of all chemicals; light is among the most generous of all physical properties.

 

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#feb12

 

 

 

First Reading Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)

1   Shout out, do not hold back! 
          Lift up your voice like a trumpet! 
     Announce to my people their rebellion, 
          to the house of Jacob their sins. 
2   Yet day after day they seek me 
          and delight to know my ways, 
     as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness 
          and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; 
     they ask of me righteous judgments, 
          they delight to draw near to God. 
3   “Why do we fast, but you do not see? 
          Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” 
     Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, 
          and oppress all your workers. 
4   Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight 
          and to strike with a wicked fist. 
     Such fasting as you do today 
          will not make your voice heard on high. 
5   Is such the fast that I choose, 
          a day to humble oneself? 
     Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, 
          and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? 
     Will you call this a fast, 
          a day acceptable to the LORD?

6   Is not this the fast that I choose: 
          to loose the bonds of injustice, 
          to undo the thongs of the yoke, 
     to let the oppressed go free, 
          and to break every yoke? 
7   Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, 
          and bring the homeless poor into your house; 
     when you see the naked, to cover them, 
          and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 
8   Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, 
          and your healing shall spring up quickly; 
     your vindicator shall go before you, 
          the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 
9   Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; 
          you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

     If you remove the yoke from among you, 
          the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 
10  if you offer your food to the hungry 
          and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, 
     then your light shall rise in the darkness 
          and your gloom be like the noonday. 
11  The LORD will guide you continually, 
          and satisfy your needs in parched places, 
          and make your bones strong; 
     and you shall be like a watered garden, 
          like a spring of water, 
          whose waters never fail. 
12  Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; 
          you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; 
     you shall be called the repairer of the breach, 
          the restorer of streets to live in.

Psalm 112:1-9 (10)

1   Praise the LORD! 
          Happy are those who fear the LORD, 
          who greatly delight in his commandments. 
2   Their descendants will be mighty in the land; 
          the generation of the upright will be blessed. 
3   Wealth and riches are in their houses, 
          and their righteousness endures forever. 
4   They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; 
          they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 
5   It is well with those who deal generously and lend, 
          who conduct their affairs with justice. 
6   For the righteous will never be moved; 
          they will be remembered forever. 
7   They are not afraid of evil tidings; 
          their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD. 
8   Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; 
          in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 
9   They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; 
          their righteousness endures forever; 
          their horn is exalted in honor. 
10  The wicked see it and are angry; 
          they gnash their teeth and melt away; 
          the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)

2When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. 2For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. 4My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,  5so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

6Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish. 7But we speak God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But, as it is written, 
     “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, 
          nor the human heart conceived, 
     what God has prepared for those who love him” — 
10these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.  13And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.

14Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny. 
16  “For who has known the mind of the Lord 
          so as to instruct him?” 
But we have the mind of Christ.

Gospel Matthew 5:13-20

13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.

14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”