I love the story of the prophet Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. She trusts the promise of the prophet. She will be taken care of, if she relies upon the fidelity of God and acts hospitably in caring for the prophet before herself and her son. Of course, God is faithful and she and her son are provided for. But, oh, what a risk, what faith! I love the story because it leads me to ask for the grace to trust in God’s fidelity to me to such a degree that I might care for others with greater self-forgetful-ness.
And I love the directness of Jesus. We are the “salt.” How important we are for life on this earth to have “flavor.” Life is “tasteless” if we do not live our lives credibly. If we don’t live our lives as witnesses that we are loved by God and are preparing to spend eternal life sharing God’s love by giving our love away here, then what else could “preserve” life’s meaning? All of life’s experiences - no matter how fulfilling, rich, or full of pleasure - will eventually “spoil” and leave us unsatisfied.
Jesus says we are like “light.” It defeats our very purpose to “cover up” our gifts. He knows that if we don’t use our gifts then others cannot as easily give God praise. In fact, if we don’t let our light shine, we eventually forget we have gifts or forget they are gifts - given to share.
Oh, Lord, let us give flavor to this world. Continue to nourish the gifts you give us. Help us to acknowledge, accept and appreciate what you give us. Fill us with your Spirit, that our lights might shine for all to see - that all might see you as the Giver of all good gifts, and give you thanks and praise.
Rev. Andy Alexander, SJ
Co-founder of Creighton’s Online Ministries, Retired 2025
I served at Creighton from 1996 to 2025. I served as Vice-president for Mission for three Presidents, directed the Collaborative Ministry Office and co-founded the Online Ministries website.
I loved seeing the number of faculty and staff who over the years really took up the mission as their own and made Creighton the Jesuit university it is today. I was also consoled to witness the website – a collaborative effort - touch the hearts of so many around the world.
I’m now living at St. Camillus – a Jesuit care facility in Milwaukee. Many of my days are spent dealing with my own health issues, as I carry out the mission we’ve been given, “to pray for the Church and the Society of Jesus.”
