“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost tis taste how can its saltiness be restored? You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.”
Matthew 5:13-14
Jesus tells us: You are the salt of the earth. And – You are the light of the world. Those metaphors show us two necessary elements for life. Our bodies need both salt and light, so both show a necessary way to express God’s love. But being salt and light comes with an enormous obligation. We are here on earth — to flavor the rest of the world around us with God’s love, and we are here to let our light shine before others, so that others may see God’s love. Christ calls us to discipleship and tells us how important we are in his mission to love others. His grace is given to us to be shared. We receive the gift of God’s love and grace in order that others may see Christ in us.
I ask you can salt really lose its saltiness? Doesn’t it just dissolve and give whatever it is in it’s flavor? Are candles or lamps ever put under bushel baskets? Wouldn’t that snuff out the flame when all the oxygen is gone, and cause everything around to be in the dark? Wouldn’t it defeat the whole purpose of being a light?
Maybe Jesus is showing us how absurd it is for us to lose the characteristics that are clearly gifts of God’s grace. If that was Jesus intent with these words then he is underscoring the reliability and resilience of the gifts of salt and light that he gives us as children of God. “You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world. Salt and light are a reality in us because of Christ’s love for us. Our saltiness and light of Christ that we carry every day is a gift of God’s love that God has given to us. We cannot ignore that we are salt or light for the world. It is a given. And as salt and light for others our relationship with God is extremely important, if we are to love God and share God’s love with others. Let’s make a point to share God’s love every day with those we meet along this life’s journey. Lets season and light up our little corner of the world with God’s love.
Questions
- Who can you share the love of God with today?
- How can you let your light shine so others may see Christ and come to know how much God loves them?
Sue is NLS Spiritual Director, since 2019 and is a retired Lutheran Pastor (ELCA). Active in VdC since 1995, she has served two terms on the Board of the Texas VdC Secretariat, and also on the Texas Gulf Coast VdC Board as Spiritual Director since its start-up in 2017.
