Salt and Light

Sermon by Rev. Dr. Mary Alice Mulligan

Matthew 5:13-20

We will spend most of the year in the Gospel of Matthew (Year A), which, scholars determined, was written in the midst of a church community made up mostly of people born Jewish who came to follow Jesus and also some others who were born Gentile (non-Jews), but who also came to follow Jesus. Matthew was written after Mark, with a higher Christology than some in the early church. He shows Jesus as not only the Jewish Messiah (Chosen One), but Son of God, and eventually the disciples worship him (28:9, 17). Other Christians probably did not have such a high understanding of Jesus this early (Matthew was written about 85 CE), so there would have been resistance from the Jewish community. All this shows, Matthew’s was a community in transition; they were cross-cultural; struggling to determine Jesus’ full identity.

Matthew’s Jesus is teaching his followers how to stand firm in the midst of their own theological uncertainty and surrounding religious opposition. Matthew’s emphasis is more Jewish than other Gospels. He uses, for instance, the term “Kingdom of Heaven” instead of “Kingdom of God,” because the book was written to be read aloud, and strict Jews would not verbalize the name of God. So, he uses “kingdom of heaven.” Also, each of the Gospels teaches about discipleship, but only Matthew describes how to be church. In fact in Matthew, Jesus initiates the church before the crucifixion. His teachings show disciples that being church implies embodying the presence of God on earth now. The Sermon on the Mount is one of the key discourses for learning how to follow Jesus and what we become when we follow correctly. So, stop now and read Matthew 5:13-20.

Jesus knows God. Matthew shows us clearly, Jesus is intimately connected to God. Matthew wants us to understand that the God of the First Testament, what we also call the Old Testament, is the God of Jesus Christ. Some people, however, resist the idea. Through the centuries, anti-Judaism has argued Jesus superseded the old covenant, did away with God’s First Testament promises. But God said the covenant with Israel is an everlasting covenant. Jesus is clear, too. The law and the prophets will not pass away. God’s original promises still stand and Jesus is at one with them, as he is at one with God.

We know Jesus grew up Jewish. Although most of us believe Jesus brings additional teachings to Judaism. We might even say his presence on earth expands what God has communicated through the chosen people, but still Jesus does not dismiss the tradition or dissolve the covenant. Jesus was born into a Jewish household, as we all know. Worship on Friday evenings was his consistent pattern. He knew torah (God’s law/teaching). Torah shaped his being. He lived and breathed the ways of God. And Jesus says he is not doing away with God’s teachings. As a devout Jew, Jesus believed torah was given by God; so it was perfect and eternal. Some people around Jesus may have questioned what he was up to. Might he be claiming he has knowledge superior to God’s teaching? So, Jesus clarifies: He is not challenging the authority of torah. He comes to fulfill torah. Another way to say it could be, Jesus lives to bring God’s law and the prophets’ teachings to fruition. His entire being is focused on fulfilling God’s purposes in the world. As he lives according to God’s will, following the Law and the teachings of the prophets, he moves towards the full achievement of God’s torah. Jesus is not only a rabbi who understands the law and the prophets, his entire life is dedicated to fulfilling God’s purposes. Jesus knows God.

So listen when Jesus gives instruction. He preaches to give guidance to his followers. Matthew constructs his Gospel to let people hear Jesus’ directions for the emerging church. So if you want to follow Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount is a good place to start learning discipleship. Here, Jesus gives two similes: you are salt of the earth, and you are light of the world. Remember, the Gospel of John says Jesus is the light of the world (8:12), but Matthew calls you to see disciples are the light. Not that they are like light;  you are light… for the world. Jesus can see that the world is struggling, unable to see the truth, as if social evil has turned off all the lights. So Jesus calls the church to be light, because when people are stumbling around, they don’t care what the lamp looks like. The lamp itself isn’t important. They care about the light it sheds. Jesus calls you to be light so others can see. This does not mean you are divine, but you can be light to illuminate how fear and animosity are having their way. God wants something different. People need God’s unconditional love lived out around them; that’s the light.

And what about Jesus’ claim that you are the salt of the earth? Think about salt. No one says, “Hey Honey, great salt at dinner!” People care what salt does. In biblical times (just like today), salt was used to enhance flavor, to make food come alive. Salt also is a preservative. In order to prevent food from spoiling, ancient peoples learned to salt it.

But there is another First Testament use: “the salt of the covenant.” When anyone makes an offering to LORD Yahweh, they are to include an offering of salt. Yahweh tells Moses: “…with all your offerings you shall offer [the] salt [of the covenant with your God].” (Leviticus 2:13) Salt affirms your total covenantal dedication to God. But Jesus does not call you to offer salt. He says you are the salt. Through your actions – as if you offer yourselves to God – you reconfirm your covenantal relationship with God. Salt and light benefit others; add strength to their lives. So, listen when Jesus instructs the church to be salt and light.

Then what should we do? Jesus calls us to righteousness. But what does he mean by righteousness? The Greek term we translate as “righteousness” means goodness, or justice, or what is right. Especially in Matthew, righteousness implies a life well-lived according to God’s will. Jesus is calling us to a righteousness which both adheres to God’s law and follows the prophets’ teachings. In other words, we are to live beyond normal “goodness.” We are to be righteous. St. Andrew Church supports an over and above mission every month. We feed, protect, clothe, support, and defend vulnerable people through 12 monthly missions every year. This is excellent ministry St. Andrew family.

But when the world is stumbling around with lights out in so many places, can we be even more, salt and light? I absolutely do not want to be partisan, but let’s speak the truth. Education in Florida is under threat. Our Conference minister, Rev. John Vertigan sent a pastoral letter to the churches reminding us of the Congregational Church (now United Church of Christ) roots of New College. We helped start the school because our denomination values education and encourages freedom of thought. Education at a school we helped found is being restricted. And higher education is not the only area being threatened. Books which grammar school children and teachers have read for decades are being pulled from school library shelves. Teachers admit to being afraid to teach freely. Students can’t read freely about Enslavement, Rosa Parks, or the Civil Rights Movement. When a national AP African American history class is disallowed in Florida, how are young people to learn the history we all share? And I admit to wondering where are the books that have been removed from the shelves?

When Jesus calls us to be people whose righteousness is excessive, he means a righteousness that stuns the world with its boldness and generosity; a righteousness that shocks even normal church people because of its tenacious commitment to justice for the oppressed. Isaiah called for it centuries before. Those who loose the bonds of injustice and remove the yoke of oppression will be called repairers of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. So, how about if we have a conversation at coffee hour? You can tell me if you don’t agree with this talk. Or you can make suggestions how St. Andrew might manifest a commitment to the least by encouraging fuller education of our children. When God calls us to a greater righteousness, there are lots of ways that can be manifest. Let’s talk about a few at coffee hour.