We Must Flavor the World

There is rarely a Saturday afternoon that goes by when we don’t have some of the young neighborhood kids’ stroll into our garage to see if our yellow Labrador Daisy can play.

Daisy is a seven year old Lab who is as gentle as they come. She thinks that her purpose in life is to lick as many people as she possibly can, and to give others the opportunity to play with her. Awe, what a life she leads!

My husband usually has Ding Dongs and Capri Sun drinks in the refrigerator for the kids’ when they come by, but, on one particular Saturday I decided to make them some chocolate chip cookies instead. So, I gathered my ingredients from the pantry and went to work measuring, mixing, and the rest.


I resisted the temptation of eating the dough and was quite proud of myself for doing so.But, being the sucker that I am for a hot chocolate chip cookie, I waited impatiently in the kitchen while they baked. The smell of the all the warm chocolate filled my senses, and the second I took them out of the oven, I grabbed a napkin and a spatula, and served myself the first one. But, instead of feeling that ,“love at first bite”, sensation that usually follows, I was met with disappointment. They tasted so blah! Something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t figure out what.

I did a replay in my mind to see what I had done different and realized I forgot to add a teaspoon of salt to the dough. What a difference it made. Needless to say, the cookies never made it to the neighbor kids. I had to toss them out.

Salt adds flavor to everything. How dull the world would be with out it!

In today Gospel reading from St. Matthew, Jesus said to his disciples:

"You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
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.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father."

As I read this passage many good everyday people came to mind, like the people that volunteer their time at local shelters, making sure that those without homes are clothed and feed and given a safe place to lay their heads down for awhile. Or, there are the many people that stand silently on the sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood praying the rosary or holding a sign that praises the gift of life. There are those that bring the communion to the sick and the elderly. And, there are many who spend countless hours in adoration praying for you, me and the rest of the world.

I guess I could say that these "salty" people inspire me. They encourage me to give more of myself.

Day unto day take up the story

And night unto night make known the messages.
~Magnificat , June , Tuesday 12^th, Morning P161

"Dear children! Today I invite you to open
yourselves to God the Creator, so that He changes you. Little
children, you are dear to me. I love you all and I call you to be
closer to me and that your love towards my Immaculate Heart be
more fervent. I wish to renew you and lead you with my Heart to
the Heart of Jesus, which still today suffers for you and calls
you to conversion and renewal. Through you, I wish to renew the
world. Comprehend, little children, that you are today the salt
of the earth and the light of the world. Little children, I
invite you and I love you and in a special way implore: Convert!"
Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM, Medjugorje, October 25, 1996