Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
from Episcopal News Service
Questions:
1) How is the church in the story trying to shed light on a painful situation?
2) What are some way that the individuals mentioned in the story are using their gifts to respond to the suffering and needs in their community?
3) Where is there pain in your community today?
4) How are you being called to shed your light on that suffering?
5) What do you think it would be like to go to a church service with all those names on the ceiling?
Views and Qs: Why Do We Need Salt
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What did you learn about salt from the video?
2) In light of what you learned about salt, what do you think it means that we are the "salt of the earth?"
3) What would happen if there was no salt left on the earth?
4) How do we embody some of the properties of salt in our lives?
5) if it is possible to have too much salt, what does it look like for us to balance our "saltiness?"
Feast and Faith: Salt and Light
For this week’s dinner discussion, we are talking about Jesus' teaching that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
Prayer -
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word
and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's
glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the
ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
Discussion –
As you sit down to dinner, with food that has been seasoned with salt, either before, during, or after you cooked it, imagine what the food would be like without any seasoning or salt at all. As you sit down to dinner, either around candlelight or under ceiling or lamp light, imagine what it would be like to eat that unseasoned food with that light covered up, in complete darkness. This is the way Jesus says the world would be if we stopped working toward the kingdom of heaven.
Questions:
1) What are some of the ways that salt is used? How might we be the "salt of the earth" in light of these uses?
2) What would the world be like if everyone hid their greatest gifts and talents? Or if they never shared their stories of experiencing God or of healing?
3) Has your experience of God challenged you to grow or change in your life?
4) Who has challenged you in your life to grow or improve?
5) What would life be like if we were never challenged or pushed to grow?
Final Nugget: In this gospel verse, Jesus challenges us to wonder what the world would be like if everyone kept their gifts to themselves (cover up the light) and never challenged the status quo (be bland). How are you being called this week to add some saltiness to the world and let your gifts shine?
Stay and Pray: A Devotion for Families at the Close of the Day Each week we feature a way for your family to reflect and pray together. For families with older children this is an at home liturgy for your family to participate in together. It is a daily devotion for families adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.
Before you begin, take a few moments to decide who will read the scripture reading and who will read the collect and closing.
Read the Psalm and Lord's Prayer in unison.
After a moment of silence, begin with the Psalm.
Psalm 112:1-9, [10]
(read in unison)
1 Hallelujah!
Happy are they who fear the Lord *
and have great delight in his commandments!
2 Their descendants will be mighty in the land; *
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in their house, *
and their righteousness will last for ever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the upright; *
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
5 It is good for them to be generous in lending *
and to manage their affairs with justice.
6 For they will never be shaken; *
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
7 They will not be afraid of any evil rumors; *
their heart is right;
they put their trust in the Lord.
8 Their heart is established and will not shrink, *
until they see their desire upon their enemies.
9 They have given freely to the poor, *
and their righteousness stands fast for ever;
they will hold up their head with honor.
[10 The wicked will see it and be angry;
they will gnash their teeth and pine away; *
the desires of the wicked will perish.]
Gospel
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 5:13-20
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Prayers for Ourselves and For Others (take this time to each offer one person/event that you would like to hold in prayer as well as one thing you are thankful for)
Dear God, tonight I ask your prayers for.......
and I give you thanks for ..........
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
(read in unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
The Collect
(read by assigned person)
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: