The Hidden City

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."


I have always been a fan of Ian Fleming, the author that has given the world the secret agent that never grows old, whose name is, "Bond, James Bond."  If there is one thing that you learn from his books is that the science of disguise is the science of small changes made to a person that add up to making that person blend in and disappear into the background.  In other words, hide in plain sight.  

A Christian, on the other hand, can wear no disguise. A Christian that blends into his environment is like salt that is no longer flavorful or a lamp that is put underneath a bushel basket, in short, useless. 

The world has a great supply of greed, sin, avarice, envy, and evil. It has that these things in abundance.  It also has an endless supply of sadness, depression, and violence.  We have something that the world needs.  We have the truth that there is a God that loves them beyond measure.  We have a God who is not a slavemaster, but a Father who wants nothing more for His children than happiness in this world and eternal joy with Him in the next world. 

This is why we cannot be secret agent Christians. We have to show by example how wonderful it is to be at peace with God, to be assured that there is one thing in the universe that will never fail and that is the love of God.  This love should excite us so much that what we have inside of us should be reflected on the outside.   The knowledge that the Father of the universe loves me personally and knows me by name should be reflected in how others see us live and love and tackle the problems of life.  They will see and they will know that God is a loving Father and they will want to meet  Him as well.  So, put your lamp on the table, be salt for the earth and light up all of the lights on the city on the hill for we have a God and Father who loves us without end,   AMEN!

Praise God for providing Purgatory for us and praise Him further that He allows us to help those there by our prayers and sacrifices.  Please pray for the poor souls today.  Remember, as they are today, someday you might also be.