Isaiah 58. 1-9; 1 Cor. 2. 1-13; Matthew 5. 13-20

The readings today are leading us into  Lent and  continue to prepare us as disciples to become ever more Christ-like in our daily lives– to bear the light of Christ to others. God is light– that is, he reveals clearly what life is about: love of others, building harmony to make the relationships work and community work (so we reflect the Trinity itself). We are made to reflect God (imago dei), and we are only truly ourselves when we do so.

The ways of the world– culture, media and social pressure– take us away from our true nature. The first reading calls us to remember being Christ-like is not just about coming to church, or even doing good churchy things (fasting and almsgiving) but intentionally to help others flourish—feed and clothe poor, make our dealings righteous for all, not just get a good deal out of others. Good deeds by themselves can mask self-righteousness (look how generous I am in donating to this cause!) But Isaiah says we should be charitable for the sake of the well-being of others– check our motivations! For it is only when we are willing that others flourish that we are participating in God’s will, and so therefore being His light to the world.

Paul continues the theme by reminding us of the big distinction between worldly ways and God’s ways. We don’t need to have erudite and fancy words to praise God, to persuade others to follow him. We need to be intentionally willing their growth into God’s love and peace and we can do that without words and in simple ways. Again, it is all about how much we will to be with God, and turn aside from our will to be seen to be good, to strive after pleasing others. Put God first, then we share in the light, but what is this salt bit?

Angus Ritchie in the Church Times writes: “The Greek word in our Gospel for “losing saltiness” literally means “to become foolish”. As Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis explains, “a thing is wisest when it is most fully itself, when it tastes most like itself, in keeping with its nature. It is ‘foolish’ when it forgets to be what it is, when it no longer has its proper flavour” (Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Meditations on the Gospel according to St Matthew). Salt enables all that is around it to become more fully and intensely what it was created to be. When Christians are truly themselves, they can help the world remember and grow into its true identity — as something called into being by and for the love of God.”

You are salt and light

Jesus says: You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world. He does not say you should become salt/light. He says you are. Often, though, I think we see this sentence as meaning we have to somehow make the salt and the light appear. The English translation doesn’t help.

Our translation says, let your light shine before others, which implies that somehow we have to have/make the light and so we have to be more perfect to others. And that is very tiring. It implies it is our light. But the Greek says something very different: Let the light in your inner part shine. That is, the light is already there. God’ s love and grace is in our inner being, longing to be expressed. But instead of releasing it, we often cover it up, like putting a light under a basket.

What hides the light? Feelings of unworthiness: I couldn’t be a lay minister, couldn’t visit someone, because I am not good enough. Self-focus covers the light: I am too busy, too old; judgmentalism covers the light: those people are boring/undeserving/ snooty – I won’t reach out to them.

Think about this for a bit: Jesus is saying that the core part of our being is this light. That is, the core part of us is Him! Of course, we are not God. But we are in the process (if we co-operate) of becoming more like Him. When we recognise who we truly are – made to be in loving relationships with others—and when we make our thoughts, words and deeds in alignment with that core being, then we do change and become more Christ like– we share the light and love of God.

It is hard to love others– but when we realise that it is not our love, but the love of God, that we are sharing, when we realise we don’t have to like or even agree with what the other does, we are free to love them in the Christian sense, and to forgive them.

But criticising others, judging others, seeing others as stupid takes us away from this love. We can discern that acts are not of God– but still desire in our hearts and will that the other person grow in love of God and know the fullness of God’s love. We will that. And our will willing God’s will releases the light and the new life. The World talks about individual happiness, Christian love is concerned for harmony between people.

What hides the light in you? Feelings of unworthiness: I couldn’t be a lay minister, couldn’t visit someone, because I am not good enough. Self-focus covers the light: I am too busy, too old; judgmentalism covers the light: those people are boring/undeserving/ snooty – I won’t reach out to them.

This week: Have I prayed for the people I have encountered this week, that they be full of the light of God? Have I in my heart and will, willed God’s love into them, changed my attitude to God’s attitude?

Or: spend some time quietly focusing on the utter grace and light of God in your inner spirit, relax into that life-giving glory which already freely exists, ponder what it feels like to have this light inside you. Let your love flow to God, receive his love. And then ask him to show you how to let his light flow through you to others.

Be blessed!