Let There Be (Salt) Light

Pr. Jasmine Waring

February 5, 2023

I’ve been to a lot of “Vision and Mission Meetings” in my life as a lay person, and as an intern before I joined the ELCA. Usually they are these flashy campaigns showing all the good works they’re planning on doing this year, and revolve it around making Jesus famous…as if Jesus needs any help or wants to be famous. I find it fascinating that when Jesus rolls out his vision for his disciples and their mission in this world, he doesn’t begin with grand statements about himself. We don’t hear the “I am” statements in this gospel like we do in the Book of John, We don’t hear about Jesus talking about his divinity, nor does his put on a show demonstrating it. Instead of talking about who he is, Jesus talks about who his disciples are. Who are the disciples? Pastor Jennifer spoke last week about the Beatitudes, and how the disciple is one who is apart of the upside-down and backwards reign of God. It is a subversive new identity of unlikely folks who are in solidarity with the poor (or are poor themselves), and practice non-violence. They are merciful and compassionate, and they seek justice even when it comes at a great cost. They are called blessed: happy, honored, even envied. They are honored and approved by God, and do not need to be honored or seek approval from Empire. They are beloved by God, and reviled by society. Then Jesus goes on to talk about the disciples being salt and light, both an extension of who they are as well as what they are responsible for. It’s important to know the author of Matthew, uses the plural form of “you” in this part. Many languages have a plural “you," but in English, the closest we get is the word, “y’all.” One of my favorite words! When Jesus is describing the disciples, he is addressing them as a group or a community, not as individuals. No one person bears the responsibility to embody salt and light at all times…what a relief! This is a communal identity. He says, y’all are salt! Salt brings out and enhances the best flavors it comes in contact with. It aids in healing. If any of you have ever had to gargle warm salt water for a mouth injury or had to get an IV of saline after battling food poisoning or the flu, you know the wondrous healing power of salt. Salt preserves food, and fights against contamination and decay. Priests in biblical times would offer salt on animal sacrifices in the Temple. It plays a part in worship and reconciliation with God. He says, y’all are light! Like a beacon on a hill, guiding people home. When Jesus says, “Let your light shine” the writer is using grammatical device called a third person imperative. This is used to suggest or order a third party to be permitted to be made to do something. So when Jesus says, “Let your light shine” it is not a command to the disciples, but to the light itself. God is commanding the light within us to shine, and by grace, we don’t have to do it in our own strength. God’s transformative power does not require or works. A former pastor of mine would often say, “When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do.” I would take this one step further and say, “When we know who we are, we will know what to do.” There are so many voices in the world trying to tell us who we are. Voices saying we should be more like a powerful empire than to be like Jesus. It’s no wonder so many communities, and including Christians in America are ineffective. They’ve lost their saltiness. I don’t know if Jesus or the writer of Matthew knew this, but salt loses its saltiness when the salt crystals become contaminated with other elements. This is by no means a call to purity, but it is a call to an awareness of what aspects of Empire makes its way into our communities. Racism, violence, sexism, domination, hatred, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia are all elements of empire that seek to separate and contaminate us, making us ineffective in God’s mission. We forget about our light when these harmful voices try to tell us who we are. They tell us to hide our God-given gifts and identities under basket, a bush, or in a closet. Empire wants to shame or coerce us to hide our light. However, our belovedness as children of God is not dependent on our circumstances, our status, or on the approval of society because God has already approved you and has called you blessed. God is commanding the light within you to shine, even on days when you don’t feel it or believe it. So what then, is the responsibility of the disciples? We embrace our light, and make others aware of the light that is already shining within them. Embracing our individual and more importantly, our collective light opens us up, and makes our core essence more evident. When we dig into our own belovedness, we help others discover their own belovedness, and live more authentic lives. No more hiding ourselves under a basket! We accomplish this by being salty. Bringing out the best in the people we come in contact with. We being healing and wholeness into our community: body, soul, and spirit. We preserve lives from corruption and the powers of death. We aid in worship in service to our God, and help reconcile the world to each other and to God. Then, Jesus said our light will cause others to see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. This is our public witness. At my ordination service I had invited a mix of friends and family who are not church people, or would call themselves Christian. I was just glad they came, but I was expecting them to freak out a little bit with all the red and laying of hands. But something happened that day. They encountered two communities who were united, who loved and affirmed me and my call. They heard the gospel preached using queer theology. They saw a Bishop use gender inclusive language, and they received Holy Communion from a lesbian Bishop. After the service, so many of my friends and family told me about how these communities public witness moved them. I even had a friend who I didn’t think they’d come because they have always been so distant when I talked about church. They said to me, “Umm I think I’m a Christian now?” When we let the light God put and is shining through us, we can’t help but be salty and invite others into their own belovedness. When folks see this work, and all the good things that are coming out of this community, people will start to wonder and perhaps even believe that there is a good and loving God somewhere out there. When we know who we are, we will know what to do. Y’all are salt. Y’all are light. So when you are poor or are poor in spirit, God is commanding, “Let there be light!” When you are in mourning, God is commanding, “Let there be light!” When you are being pushed around and taken advantage of, God is commanding, “Let there be light!” When you have a deep desire to do the right thing, and wage peace, God is commanding, “Let there be light!” When you are showing mercy instead of punishment, God is commanding “Let there be light!” When people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely for Christ’s sake, God is commanding, “Let there be light!” Remember to stay salty, my friends. And may grace and peace be with you every step of the way.