Isaiah 58:3-9a; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5:13-20

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There is almost no recipe that doesn’t require salt. It’s an essential ingredient to make food taste good. Without salt, so many things just taste bland. Of course, we know some foods naturally have salt in them so there’s not much need to add extra, though sometimes I still do. Salt not only enhances flavors in other foods, but it can also be used for many other things too, like as a preservative.

Not enough salt is a common issue. But so is too much. If you dump the entire shaker of salt on your plate, you’re not going to enjoy eating it. Salt needs to be spread out to be useful, lest it become a waste. Light in the same way can be a great blessing. A flashlight is useful outside at night to see, or in a dark room. However, it’s nonsense to turn on a flashlight during the day or in a room that’s already lit. 

For consider our Gospel reading this week as Jesus calls us both salt and light. “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? …You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden,” Matthew 5:13-14. Jesus’ disciples are meant to be both salt and light to the world. Salt to preserve the world from God’s wrath and light to reveal the love of God. 

Witnessing, sharing our faith is such an essential part of being a Christian. We can’t segregate ourselves away from the rest of the world, just like you can’t dump an entire shaker of salt on your plate and expect the food to taste good. Unsalty salt is an oxymoron. So is a non-witnessing Christian. “It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet,” Matthew 5:13. Faith is not private. It’s not something only between you and God. For so, it’s tempting for us to hide our light, to congregate together away from the world and think we’re no worse a Christian. 

Think about it this way, though. Jesus never said you must “turn on your light”. He never said you must “become” salt. He makes you both salt and light. You are the light of the world. Jesus makes us both when he calls us to follow him, when he makes us his disciple, when he fills us with his word. Being salt and light isn’t something we have to do, it’s who we already are! For it’s not our own light that we shine. Our words and deeds shine a light not on ourselves, but on God who saved us. Jesus Christ has restored you by dying on the cross for your sins. For this is how we give glory to God, how we be both salt and light in the world. We tell the world about Jesus and all that he has done for us through his death and resurrection. Through us, then, God uses our words and deeds to “preserve” the world that we, his children may enter his kingdom through the righteousness of Christ!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O Lord, keep Your family the Church continually in the true faith that, relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may ever be defended by Your mighty power; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!