Homily at Hogmanay 

by Michael Paterson

When Stephen Manders, the preacher who was billed to fill this slot today, telephoned last night to say that he was laid up with the most awful flu, my heart sank. Having given four homilies over the Christmas weekend I felt a bit like the left over turkey - all dried up and unappetising - and was really looking forward to tasting someone else’s inspirational fayre. But alas it was not to be and so once again I find myself reluctantly climbing these pulpit steps.

Over the Christmas period, we shortened our sermons which were anything from 12-20 minutes long, to Homilies of about 5 or 6 minutes each, in response to the wise saying which reminds the preacher that ‘if after five minutes you haven’t struck oil, stop boring.’ Well today in an attempt to use as few words as possible, I would like to give you small reminders of today’s gospel passage which speaks of you as salt for the earth and light for the world. Jesus doesn’t say, ‘I would like you be Salt’ or ‘one day you will be Light’ as if he was speaking of something in the future. Nor does he say, ‘do your best to be like Salt’, or ‘aim to give off Light’ as if he was speaking of something aspirational. Rather he makes it absolutely clear that salt and light are what we actually here, right here and now.

But the truth is that salt and light are both ambiguous since both can have a positive and a negative effect. Salt can help bring out the flavour in a dish. It can be used to preserve foods like fish and as saline solution it can counter the effects of dehydration. But when overused it can ruin a meal, leave us parched and dry and pose risks to our health.

Similarly torchlight can help us find our way at night. On a winter’s day firelight can warm us against the cold and when we feel stressed candle light can calm and soothe us. But a naked flame can also scorch and burn and a spark from an unguarded fire, do untold damage.

As we stand on the threshold of a new year, I invite you to take your salt home and to consider the ways in which you bring out the flavour of those around you at home, at work and in your church community and the ways in which you leave others dry or with a bad taste in their mouths. And as you take home the candle, I invite you to consider the ways in which you bring light, warmth and hope to the dark places and situations around you as well as to consider what it is you do that sometimes leaves others feeling overheated, or singed or burned by coming into contact with you. Searching questions indeed, but worth pondering when you come to make your new year’s resolutions.

Michael Paterson

31-12-2006

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