Pastor's Corner: You are the salt and light of the world

On Christmas, we celebrated the good news that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. In his earthly ministry, Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. This is the embodiment of the Christmas story.

There are profound implications to being named salt and light. It means that we are to flavor the world. We are to season and transform human activity in such a way that it reveals God in this world. It means we are to help people better see God’s life in theirs. It means we are to enlighten the dark places of the world. You and I are the means by which God flavors and illuminates life and the world.

So what does that look like? What does that mean for us? It’s really pretty practical and tangible. It’s something that can be tasted and seen. It makes a difference in the world and to other people.

It is looking another in the eyes, speaking a kind word, and acknowledging him or her as having been created in the image and likeness of God.

It is generosity with your compassion, time, and money to care for and make a difference in the lives of the poor, the hungry, the homeless.

It is starting a conversation and rebuilding a relationship when what you mostly feel is indifference, pain, or anger.

It is faithfulness and commitment to others shown by listening, being available, and spending time. It would mean slowing down, rearranging your schedule, and valuing presence over efficiency and productivity.

It is choosing a life of self-giving rather than taking and acquiring, vulnerability rather than defensiveness, and intimacy rather than isolation. It means you might, and probably will, get hurt.

It is loving God, your neighbor, your enemy, and yourself.

Salt that has no flavor and light that is hidden are worthless. No one says, “Pass the salt please,” hoping that that the flavor of their food will stay the same. No one walks into a room, flips the switch, and hopes the light won’t come on. Yet, we’ve all known times like that, times when our insides and outsides don’t line up, when something is amiss, and we’re just not ourselves.

With those words Jesus is declaring what already is. He is making a statement of fact. This doesn’t mean we must become something we’re not already. It means we are to become, live into, and manifest what we already are. That is both the good news and the challenge, to believe and become what we already are. It is some of our most difficult and most important work.

During seminary, I spent quite a bit of time at monasteries. At the invitation in the Eucharist the priest would point to the gifts, the bread and wine become body and blood, and say, “Behold what you are, become what you see.”

I think that is what Jesus is saying here. “Behold the salt that you already are. Behold the light that you already are. Become that for the life of the world. Let them taste and see.” I can’t tell you how to do that. It will be unique to each of our lives. It will be particular and specific to our individual circumstances and relationships. I don’t exactly know what you will do, where you will sprinkle your salt, or where you will shine your light, but I know this: In whatever ways you do that, wherever you do that, on whomever you do that, you will reveal Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. In that moment, they, and you, will taste life and see the world as never before.

Let them taste and see, for you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

——

The Rev. Maggie Lewis

First Presbyterian Church, Havre

Chinook Presbyterian Church