February 6, 2011
Light on the Salt
- Matthew 5:13-20
- Dr. Teri Thomas
We're in the second of five weeks of passages from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount as recounted by Matthew. Once again we are tempted to hear Jesus' words as requirement rather than blessing, as command rather than commissioning.
But take note: Jesus doesn't say, "If you want to become salt and light, do this...." Or, "before I'll call you salt and light, I'll need to see this from you...." Rather, he says both simply and directly, "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world." It is, the very same as last week's Beatitudes, sheer blessing, commendation, affirmation, and commissioning. "You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world. That's the way it is and that's the way it will stay. Period."
Jesus had a knack for coming up with very common images and giving them very deep meanings. These images- salt and light were not new to his audience. Images of salt and light were used in Hebrew tradition to denote covenant and law. Salt was actually used in sealing a covenant.
David and his descendents were a lamp before God.
So Jesus pulled these images the people already knew, items with which they were familiar, and used them to teach.
You are the salt of the earth he said-
The functions of salt were many.
Just as today salt was used then
to strengthen flavor
preserve food
and as a cleansing agent.
But in ancient times it was also rubbed on newborn children,
used to seal covenants,
sprinkled on sacrifices,
and understood as a metaphor for wisdom.
Whatever function Jesus had in mind,
in all of them salt is not an element useful to itself.
Its value comes in its application on other things.
So, likewise the followers of Jesus are called to exist for others.
Jesus gives another image-
You are the light of the world.
Light
Reveals what is hidden
Allowing all to see
Restoring beauty
In Jesus' usage,
the light is not simply to allow others to see whatever they wish
but it is for others
to witness the acts of justice that Jesus' followers perform.
Beyond that,
it allows the audience to recognize the cause of these actions,
the God of heaven.
Images of light span the Bible. After the wind swept over the formless void, the first words spoken by God in the Bible are, “Let there be light,”
and God saw “how good the light was.” The Book of Revelation ends
when God will give light to his servants forever.
In Jesus’ time, dark was dark. There was no ambient light. Only with the help of light from a lampstand could you see the faces of others. Light was an important beacon to guide a travel-weary pilgrim; its faint glimmer a welcome sign of the beginning of a new day.
And as with the salt- the light does not serve itself. The job of light is not to draw attention to itself. It is there to allow people to see things that would otherwise be hidden in the darkness.
Now lest we think these symbols have lost their power over the years let’s think of them in the context of today. Just this past week I thought of all the uses I had for salt.
Epsom salts in the tub after a workout so keep from being sore
Salt in the water softener to keep it from being hard
Salt on the popcorn while I watch old movies on TV
Salt on the driveway and walks and streets and parking lots to melt the ice. Salt is about taste and comfort and safety and easing the pain.
This week light was present as well. I had a flashlight by my bed just in case the power went out from all the ice. The light in the fridge and in the pantry assuring me I have more than I need- even in the storm
Light on the thermostat promising heat and warmth
Lights in the house- the power of the community to provide for our needs.
The sun streaming through the ice covered trees making what is dangerous and annoying something beautiful. Light is about showing the path, chasing away the darkness, melting the cold,
The Gospel reading tells the people of Matthew’s community,
and us as well, be salt, be light.
Be who you already have been called to be and are capable,
by the power of God, of being in and for the world.
Like salt, our care of others will bring out the best of a world that has turned sour; like the radiance of a lamp, we can enlighten a world that is floundering in darkness.
Our role as salt and light for the world is something we are called to do now – however imperfectly and however meagerly. Remember that with both salt and light, a little bit goes a long way. Too much salt is nasty and dangerous. Too much light is blinding.
The little flavor we bring – the small light we can offer –
make all the difference to the world.
Without our salt - life is tasteless and dull.
Without our light people will stumble and fall.
With them-
Life is yummy and beautiful.
The world will taste and see that the Lord is good.
Amen.