Jesus is preaching on the mountain in the Gospel lesson. His famous sermon in Matthew’s Gospel begins with refrains of “blessed” and moves into the ways of love, even for enemies. In the section of his sermon for this weekend, Jesus proclaims us “salt” and “light.” Jesus is not saying we are like salt or have some of the qualities of light. He says we are salt and that we carry the light of Christ into the world.
You can read about the history and importance of salt on your own; it is a fascinating topic. What is captivating for us to ponder is how salt works. You know that without salt, food is bland, and with too much salt, food can be inedible. Debi Thomas, a favorite contemporary theologian, writes about salt:
“Salt doesn’t exist to preserve itself; it exists to preserve what is not itself. Another metaphor for this? A metaphor Jesus used all the time? Dying. Jesus calls us to die to self. To die in order to live. Remember — we are salt. It’s not a question of striving to become what we are not. It’s a question of living into the precious fullness of what we already are…. Lastly, salt is meant to enhance, not dominate. Christian saltiness heals; it doesn’t wound. It purifies; it doesn’t desiccate. It softens; it doesn’t destroy. Even when Christian saltiness has an edge, even when, for example, it incites thirst, it only draws the thirsty towards the Living Water of God. It doesn’t leave the already thirsty parched, dehydrated, and embittered (Journey with Jesus, February 2020).”
Jesus is tending the garden of identity. Grounded in the identity as the beloved of God, we are salt, light, and many other named realities for the people of God. We pay close attention to what we are and what we are not. Jesus invites us, once again, into the big questions that define life. What does it mean that Jesus names you as salt, beloved of God?
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Pastor Peter