2 November

Today’s the day when in 1998 the Morris worm became the first internet-distributed computer worm to gain significant mainstream media attention. It was launched from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A worm is a self-replicating program that uses a network to send copies of itself to other systems and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program. Worms always harm the network, if only by consuming bandwidth. They have been causing us frustration ever since and countless hours of research have been spent trying to create the computer equivalent of a worming tablet. Disciples of Jesus are people who have been launched into a new life by the power of his Spirit and whose influence spreads through the network of their relationships. Jesus didn’t have the analogy of computer worms to work with, so he illustrated the point with good old salt and light. This is what he says in Matthew 5:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."