We offer online giving through Parish Giving. 

Please scan the QR Code below or click onto the box to go to our Parish Giving link. 

Thank you for your donation!

 5^th Sunday In Ordinary Time

  In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus defines the role of the Christian in the world by two words: salt and light. Jesus says, you are the salt of the earth.
  You are the light of the world!

  Jesus uses salt and light, two simple but very effective examples to make His point. It’s  difficult for us today to understand how critically       

  essential salt was to the ancient world. It was a food preservative that was valued as highly as money.

  But for a moment let's think of salt as Gordon Ramsey, Rachel Ray, Giada, or Lidia would think of it. Salt enhances flavor; it makes something 

  that is already good taste even better. It brings out the best. And that’s what Jesus emphasized. We are to become people who bring a whole

  new taste to the world we live in. We are to “God Flavor” it. We are to create a new kind of zest, a new appetite, a new craving.

  Besides being salt, Jesus tells us that we are Light. What does light do? It illuminates; it warms; it lifts spirits. Without light we stumble, we

  bump into each other, and we can end up in  unsafe places where we do not belong. But light makes all things visible. It helps us to follow the

  safer path; it helps us to see danger and allows us to avoid it. As light we are called to show the way.

  What are we to do? First, salt must be different from food before it can be of use. If salt loses its taste, then it is useless and can no longer make

  a difference. Light must be different from darkness to be of help. A flashlight with dead batteries is no good for someone in the dark. So being

  salt and light of the world means being different from the world. If believers have nothing that  distinguishes them from unbelievers, then they

  are like salt that has lost its saltiness and therefore cannot make a difference. And what distinguishes us from non-believers is the love and 

  concern we have for each other.

  Secondly, both salt and light operate by associating with the thing that they want to change. Salt cannot improve the food unless it goes into

  the food and changes it from within. Light cannot show the way unless it encounters darkness. Sometimes Christians think that it’s better to

  avoid any association with popular culture. But by shying away from the realities of our society, and our world, we might indeed be hiding our 

  lamp under the bushel basket. To make a difference we must get up and get involved.

  It is our duty as Christians to make the world a better place. Through our baptism, we are called to become people who dispel the darkness that

  we find around us. We are called to become a new kind of spotlight that helps others see the truth. And when we do, that new life force, that

  new taste, that new “God flavor” becomes contagious.

  A great question to ask yourself is, “where is there darkness in my world?” Who do I know that is suffering physically, emotionally, spiritually?   

  Who do I know that is good but can be even  better? How can I be salt and light for that person?

  God bless you today and always as you add spice and light to those around you.

  Deacon Anthony Cioe