7 June 2016 - salt and light

[ Today's Readings ]

You are the salt of the earth.

You are the light of the world.

This is true. But Jesus does not tell us this so that we can feel smug. We are used to hearing these in terms of Sunday school self-affirmations. And there is some truth to those feelings. But the real reason Jesus tells us these things is because the world is in so desperate need of salt and light. 

We need not fear in the dark valley because of the shepherd with whom we walk. But the world has no such assurance. The one who walks in darkness does not know where he is going (see John 12:35). Without the light we one cannot help but stumble for he walks in the night (see John 11:10).

Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world not merely so that we can feel loved although, yes we are loved. He tells us this not merely so that we can feel confident of the path on which we walk and the destination toward which which travel, though yes, we can feel confident. He tells us that we are light because there is such darkness all around us and we have the only antidote. When we think of light only in terms of what we are and not what others need we become garish and blinding.

Jesus tells us that we are salt. We preserve and add flavor. And so we think of how special we are and how unique our individual contributions can be. And yes, this is true. But we need to think more of just how utterly bland and terrible is the food which the world gives. It spoils before it can even be eaten. The world needs salt. It isn't just a nicety. The world suffers without it. It is significantly underseasoned to say the very least. Again, we must not focus overmuch on ourselves. If we do we simply contribute to high blood pressure rather than adding flavor and freshness.

This does not mean we disregard ourselves entirely. In fact, we must take care of ourselves to be any good to anyone.

But first make me a little cake and bring it to me.
Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.

But it means that we recognize the bigger purpose for which we sustain ourselves. We are selves ordered toward other. We are meant to live for love.

For the LORD, the God of Israel, says,
‘The jar of flour shall not go empty,
nor the jug of oil run dry,
until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.’

To do this, we must remember that we are not our own source. Our light comes from the one who is the light of the world.

O LORD, let the light of your countenance shine upon us!