The Gospel according to Matthew this morning is an insightful mixture of metaphors- we disciples & followers of Jesus are called "the salt of the earth” and "the light of the world". We, as salt, give flavor to life, as well as what preserves what needs to endure. We are God’s way of shedding light into the dimly lit corners and back alleys of creation, as well as the beacon in darkness that can guide home the lost and hopeless.

In the late 1800s, most American workers toiled at least 12-hours a day, seven days a week in order to make a basic living. Children were also working, as they provided cheap labor to employers, and laws against child labor were not strongly enforced. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing in the late 1800s.

I am going to tell you three seemingly disassociated vignettes. Bear with me, as they really aren't all that different. Quite a number of years ago, my first partner and I were in the process of ending our seven year relationship. Without going into the gory details, suffice it to say it was not pretty, clean or easy, but instead rather messy, ugly and difficult.

There is a fundamental tension in the faithful life, and the lessons today really bring that up, and bring it out.

Start with the reading from Isaiah. that lovely imagery of love and abundance. Isaiah speaks of God as a lover, and sings for God a love song to creation: " My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines ..."