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Today's Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Like many others, we have had a priest who has been an important part of our faith walk. One such priest was born and educated in Ireland and then assigned to the Orlando Diocese in Florida.

His origins sound very traditional: his dad was a detective on the Cork police force. Dad was a drinker who often brought the dark side of his work home, and he wasn’t always pleasant to be around. Dad died of a massive heart attack during a family quarrel. Mom was a stay-at-home who prayed the rosary and had a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the wall at the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper bedrooms. Doesn’t this all sound like fodder for a movie?

The Irish priest came home from the States to spend his vacation with his widowed mom. One morning, he noticed her walking around looking, looking here and there. “What in the world are you looking for” he asked. “Me teeth. Me false teeth. I can’t think what could have happened to them.” 

She later found the teeth where she had put them the night before. It’s enough to make you laugh when you hear it - she put them in her shoes that she had left at the bottom of the stairs. But far enough recessed that they weren’t visible when searching.

I know this is a sort of long, and perhaps strange lead-in to today’s Gospel. It has taken me such a long time to realize how hidden from view my faith was. And over such a long time.

For me and for a while, my faith was something that was only inside of me. It was mine. My own creation. It was a feeling... a presence felt when walking amidst the vistas of the Colorado Rocky Mountains or when passing through the quaking Colorado aspen trees. (Sing it John Denver, sing it!)

For me and for a while, my faith was a thing to be done. An item to be checked off of on my list. Christmas? Check. Easter? Check. Sundays? Sometimes. Check. Someone ill with cancer? Visit church. Check. 

That sort of faith was without seasoning. It wouldn’t serve or help anyone other than myself. But God has since given me the glorious vision now found in between the lines of today’s Gospel. 

In whatever way He calls me, I want His light to be my light. I want that light of his to shine before others. And may it be done in such a way that it glorifies the God who placed the desire in me to start with. The God of the Colorado aspen trees and 14,000 foot elevation vistas that inspire my soul and heart. I feel like singing the words of that great old hymn, “How Great Thou Art.”

 

Ponder:

In what ways are you putting a bushel basket over any aspects of your faith? Ponder what might inspire you to make your faith more visible?

Pray:

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees. When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Savior God, to Thee,

How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Copyright 2014 Deacon Tom Fox