PRAYER

God of Light, You have given us the Holy Scriptures as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Illuminate Your word for us today so that we may bask in Your glory, restoring to us again the joy of our salvation. Amen

READING

Matthew 5: 11-16 (NLT)

¹¹ “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. ¹² Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

REFLECTION

Being Portuguese, the cod fish is at the core of our being. Yes the lowly yet versatile cod bring us delight on Fridays through Lent and helps us ring in the New Year. Cod was once hugely plentiful in the Atlantic ocean, thus making it cheap, and since it was cheap, it became the food for the poor. In order to preserve this food, people would coat it in salt and leave it in the sun to dry. Salt allowed for the preservation of nourishment.

Another use for salt is to enhance the flavour of food. In this Scripture reading, Jesus says we are salt. We should behave in a way that our actions enhance the goodness of the world around us. We should demonstrate love to others and through this action, people will know we love God and that God is love. We have an impact on others all the time. Are we making a positive or negative impact on them? How can we demonstrate to others the preserving quality of salt? Be salty, my friends!

LENT CHECK IN

Try eating a meal without salt. How did it taste?

If you're feeling adventurous, try cooking salted cod.(Portuguese Bacalhau Recipe)

Try active listening the next time you have a conversation with a friend. Try not to think about what to say but instead how to validate your friends feelings.