Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany - Scout Sunday - February 8, 2026

Summary

On Scout Sunday, Mother Suzanne uses the beloved children's song "This Little Light of Mine" to illustrate Jesus's teaching about being salt and light from the Sermon on the Mount. She emphasizes that God works through simple, ordinary acts of service, praising the scout troop at Grace Episcopal Church for their faithful work tending the playground, collecting food for the blessing box, and serving the homeless community. Mother Suzanne encourages the scouts to continue being salt and light in the world through their everyday acts of courage, service, and putting others before themselves.

THE GOSPEL                                                                                                                                              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.” 

On Scout Sunday, we celebrate the anniversary of the Scouting movement (founded Feb 8, 1910), recognize volunteers and Scouts, and foster faith-based relationships with the scouts and leaders of Troop and Pack 400. 

Transcript

Epiphany 5 Year A Matthew 5:13-20

Salt and Light—Scout Sunday

      This little light of mine—I’m gonna let is shine…this little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine let it shine let it shine…a child’s song…one of the first songs I learned.  A song I’ve carried with me over the years, have sung to my boys and have never forgotten…and so it seems, it’s not just me…because over and over, I find that songs and music have a way of transcending time and place…they can take you back to another world…

      If you know this song, sing it out! This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.  This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine let it shine let it shine…

      This song…a small offering, I think sheds light on one of the most profound spiritual truths…and often times, I think that’s the way the kingdom of God works…the simple and basic…perhaps even child-like…hold the keys to unlock the foundation of our faith…and open up glimpses of the kingdom…

        Meaning, you don’t have to be a genius to understand the ways of God…you don’t have to be a theologian or biblical scholar to know God…and to love him…in fact, time and time again, we see Jesus holding up children…those who have simple understanding as those who will inherit the kingdom…their child-like faith is worthy of emulating…of being like…subscribing too…

      And so, being salt and light…two pretty basic commodities…and the purposes of them don’t require a PhD to understand…are what Jesus speaks of when he continues his teaching…the Beatitudes…the Sermon he gave on the Mount…  

      And how appropriate on Scout Sunday these characteristics are spoken of…right in line with the scout oath and law…characteristics worth aspiring to…they’re simple…and foundational…and so perhaps that’s why Jesus took the opportunity to speak of salt and light during one of his most important and pivotal teaching times…

      Jesus doesn’t over complicate things…and often uses things common to most people as teaching tools…ensuring that most would understand… 

      So, be salt…in other words…salt makes things taste better…and when salt isn’t in your food, you miss it…things are bland and not tasty when salt has been withheld…

      And be the light…the light that was given to you at your day of baptism…it goes before you because that light was manifested when you were marked and claimed as God’s own forever…

      I will ask the question…who are those salty folks in your life?  Said another way…who are the lights in your life?  Are there some people who just shine bright?  Who you look forward to seeing?  That you walk away thinking to yourself…they’re really special…I want what they have…salt and light are attractive…and when they’re not around, they’re missed…or said another way, when they are around, things are better—just like a church that has a robust scout troop and pack—Grace is better because of troop 400.  

       Did you know…on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings Grace is a beehive of activity because scouts and parents are milling about…Scouts have work days in which they ask how they can enter in…and one of the biggest ways is pulling the weeds to our playground so that our community and other children can enjoy? Did yo know that scouts collect canned goods for the blessing box…and this year, they collected blankets and made backpacks filled with essentials for the unhoused in Alvin?  This doesn’t even include the amount of times I have walked in on meetings…planning and finding ways to live out what it means to be a scout—and sometimes that means going crazy on the playground—believe me, when the scouts are at Grace, you know!  Simple ways of entering in…but needed and appreciated…

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      If you’ve spent any time with me, I’m a firm believer that just as Jesus chose to teach simply, I believe that God also shows himself in simple and often very ordinary ways.  And what I’ve found is that it’s often in moments of simplicity and very ordinary life, we come to see and know that God is with us in all things…what we do, what we say, how we act….it is the light that leads and illumines…it draws people to us…it can sometimes cause people to pause and wonder why did they do that…they’re just different…  

      What I’ve also learned is that if we’re faithful in the small and ordinary, these are windows by which we can see the extraordinary show its face or even take our breath away… 

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      So, on Scout Sunday, Scouts, what I would say to you is be salt and light…know that you’re every day acts of courage and strength make a difference…and make life better for others.  You put others before yourself, your posture is one in which you look for ways to serve and to help; you rise to the occasion to do hard things; and you set yourself apart because you choose and act differently.  You all come week in and week out to Grace Episcopal for your scout training but something else you might not give much thought to is that this space is sacred and holy…God’s presence is real here…know that you’re part of making this world better by caring for it, loving and helping all those created in his image and living into something much bigger and greater than yourself.  God, country and your neighbor. Thank you for being salt and light.  Our world needs this.  Amen.