Shine Before Others

June 10, 2008
Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
“Do not be afraid,” Elijah said to her. "Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son. For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" 1 Kings 17:13-14
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Matthew 5:14-15
Piety
You are the light of the world!You are the light of the world!But if that light is under a bushel,It's lost something kind of crucialYou've got to stay bright to be the light of the world
You are the salt of the earthYou are the salt of the earthBut if that salt has lost it's flavorIt ain't got much in its favorYou can't have that fault and be the salt of the earth!
(chorus):So let your light so shine before men Let your light so shineSo that they might know some kindness againWe all need help to feel fine (let's have some wine!)
From Godspell
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/061008.shtml
If we are to shine before others, then we can not be shy about speaking of faith. When I started this blog more than two years ago, I hid behind the “nom de plume” of The Lighthouse Keeper. The biography linked to this site has some personal details about my life. However, it did not reveal my “nom de actual.”
My generous co-authors attached their by-lines to daily columns. Yet anyone who tripped over this on the internet would not know who the author was.
That was until readings like Matthew 5 started to sink into my consciousness. So sometime last winter, I stepped out of the shadows and added my name to the author’s profile on the web page. Thanks to many friends in Group Reunion and Ultreya who encouraged me to take that step.
What have you been hiding under a bushel? Put that work out in the open before someone else shines a light upon you.
Action
Today is primary election day in the state of Virginia. Therefore, there are two issues of concern to those familiar with Faithful Citizenship. First, go vote. Make time. As Tim Brown reminded me yesterday, in many countries, people are killed for the right to vote. Even our nation had to have the patriots put their life and property and sacred honor on the line to help establish this nation. Don’t embarrass them and their sacrifice by not voting for your favorite candidate.
Second, there is a vote in Congress that needs your attention. Please urge your Representative to cosponsor the Global Security Priorities Resolution (HR 1045) which aims to reduce the number of nuclear weapons and use the savings to support nuclear non-proliferation efforts and child survival programs. We seek to gain more bipartisan support for this important legislation introduced by Congressmen Dan Lungren (R-CA) and James McGovern (D-MA).