Salty and Bright

Feb 5
2 min read

Left: a pinch of salt disappearing into water
Right: an uncovered candle glowing in darkness — Created using ChatGPT

13 “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 underfoot. 14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.15 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.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

(Matthew 5:13-16)

After Jesus described how vastly different God's reign and God's kingdom are in comparison to the rulers of the world and the empires they build, Jesus began to explain our role and responsibility for ushering in God's rule. Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Generally, we don't eat salt by itself. It's used to alter the properties of other things - the flavor, the longevity, the purity. We may not be able to see salt once its used, but it's affect and effect will be apparent as we interact with whatever the salt has interacted with. Conversely, light at that time was fire, and covering it up would snuff it out.

Light must be seen to be useful.

It can be tempting to pull away, separate ourselves, as we try to live lives holy and pleasing to God. But our attempts at holiness can be mistaken for distance, as if purity were preserved by avoiding the world rather than loving it. In order to be salt, we have to get in there - into the world, into the lives of those who know only the injustice and harm of worldly empire - and be the seasoning of merciful justice and healing. That may mean standing beside a neighbor facing eviction, mentoring a child who has been written off, using our cameras, our voices, and even our bodies to document and - at least attempt - to preventor discriminatory detentions, and speaking truth when prejudice passes for policy. The fire, the light of God's love, that burns within us must shine bright enough that those living in darkness can be drawn to Hope. Jesus did his part. He showed us how to love all of our neighbors - even those who misunderstand, those who persecute, those who are lost.

Now we must go and do likewise.

1 Praise the Lord.

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,

who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land;

the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,

and their righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,

for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,

who conduct their affairs with justice.