Reflections

Updates from Whirlow

Being what we ARE. Together. (Tuesday Reflection)

Jesus suggests that who we are today is salt and light enough to change the world, in his beautiful and challenging Sermon on the Mount.

Slowly, read the suggested excerpt - Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 5 and verses 13 - 16.


The section is taken from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. It is found in Matthew’s Gospel chapters 5 - 7 and is worth reading in full!

Spend some time reflecting on these phrases (emphasis ours):

You ARE the Salt of the earth

You ARE the Light of the World

And / or, look at this tweet about a protest in Meersbrook Park, Sheffield on Saturday. There is a picture, if you follow the link.


Reflection

Notice that Jesus says we ARE the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Not that we will be, can be or could be.

He suggests that recognising something about the quality of our life, about what is within us now, moment by moment, enables us to be the same kind of salt and light we see in Jesus, in our own time and place. We can truly follow; we can discover eternal life today, together.


You may find this, from Richard Rohr, on ‘Community as Alternative Consciousness’, helpful. We have picked out some particularly striking quotes below:

“The goal of the spiritual journey is to discover and move toward connectedness …. making little connections with other people, with nature and animals, then … deeper connectedness”


“Remember, how you do anything is how you do everything”


“Becoming who we really are is a matter of learning how to become more and more deeply connected.”


“love gives us hope and allows us to trust … It allows us to work together toward ‘what can be’ … a society less destructive, more peaceful and more whole.” 


“Building … ‘contrast’ communities … sharing abundance and living in simplicity (rather than hoarding wealth); nonviolence and chosen suffering (rather than aligning with power).”


“we’re now seeing many people … coming together to form alternative systems for sharing resources, living simply, and imagining a sustainable future.  It has been one of the spiritual gifts of the pandemic.”


“God never misses a chance to help us grow up."


Going deeper:

Does anything here - the tweet, bible passage, longer Sermon, or quotes - particularly ‘arrest’ you? What does that feel like? Is there anything you, salt and light that you are today, are being invited to do?


Concluding Prayer:

Abba Father, let me be yours and yours alone.

May my life forever be ever more your own.

Never let my heart grow cold,

Never let me go

Abba Father, let me be yours and yours alone. 

 

Grace, Peace and Love be with you this day and every day.

Himalayan salt image, thanks to Wallpaper Flare