Homily - World Youth Day

(Fr. Keith starts reading newspaper) Did you ever notice --- Monday, Tues. Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat -- there is no religion page in the news- then perhaps Sunday - or Saturday - there is one page covering religion ?

I always though that this was very peculiar in that religion is not to be only a Sunday thing but that the Catholic church teaches that we are called to bring our faith into our daily lives......That we are to bring our faith to our place of work, school, family, neighbourhoods, unions, businesses decisions, education, government and so on.

Our faith has never been a Sunday one. This is why the church gives us this time of the year called Ordinary Time - when we think about the ways, ordinary ways that we can our faith. The Gospel is also an extension of the Baptism Gospel when again we are asked to think how we the baptized can live our faith each day.

There are actually two symbols that I think can help us explain this... these are the two symbols chosen by Pope John Paul II for World Youth Day.

As you know Canada has been very fortunate in being chosen as the site of WYD 2002 - the first of the 21st century. 500,000 young people 16 - 35 years old will be gathering across Canada for celebrations, teaching, youth festivals all across Canada and the on the last weekend all coming to Toronto for Mass with the Pope, which is open for everyone. As so the Holy Father decided this year to use the symbols of -- you are the Light of the World, you are the salt of the earth.

Light and Salt -- Light is a most powerful symbol. If we imagine that the church si all in darkness -- or if the Y2K bug hit and all of Port Credit would be in the darkness- this candle would be a great symbol of light -- it is no wonder then that Jesus si called the Light of the World - and we share in that light.

Salt -- another interesting symbol -- salt is probable one the most common things on earth - all countries and cultures use salt -- and yet salt also offers a powerful influence - is you take only a little bit of salt and taste it -- even the smallest amount can be noticed.

And if you have ever put salt instead of sugar into your coffee you know how strong the taste and the use of salt can be. And so the Pope calls us to be that Light and that Salt -- to carry the light of Christ out into the world -- into the world that a times can be dark and dismal.

And to be that salt of the earth - in small ways of influencing the places in which we find ourselves each day - and that is why again that these symbols match the message of this Liturgy - that we are to be that light and salt in our daily living of our faith - and nit just Sunday mornings.

Imagine then that you are on a hilltop - you are holding that Light -- what would you say???

Imagine that you are there as salt of the earth - how would you let Jesus to use your hands and your heart for prayer and god works?

How can I be that Light of the world, the salt of the earth - Monday , Tues., Wed, Thurs, Fri and Saturday??????