Salt and Light

Scripture:        Isaiah 58:1-12, Psalm 112:1-10

I Corinthians 2:1-16,  Matthew 5:13-20

We are continuing in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  Today we hear Jesus compare his followers to “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”

What images do these words bring up in your mind.  For salt, of course we think of table salt and the use of salt in cooking.  Salt has a taste of its own, but also brings out the flavor of whatever it seasons.  Salt is also used to melt ice….but  I don’t think Jesus was saying that Christians should be thrown on the sidewalk to melt ice.  Salt is also a preservative – salted pork is ham, and historically fish was also salted to preserve it so that it could be sold and eaten later.  Salt also has healing qualities, and can be used as a disinfectant.  For example, while I have very good teeth, and in fact still have all my wisdom teeth, my gums for whatever reason are endlessly bleeding and periodically erupting in canker sores, no matter how often I brush, and so I gargle and rinse with salt water regularly so that I can bring my discomfort while eating down to a manageable level.  Salt was very valuable in ancient times for all of these reasons, and in some cases was used as a medium of exchange, as money – the word “salary” and “salt” have the same root, and to say that someone is “worth his salt” is to say that he’s worthy of his pay.  And I think Jesus wanted his followers to have all these qualities – living in a way that adds savor to life, preserving that which is of God in society, being a healing presence.  And though Jesus likely didn’t have it in mind, I suppose that Jesus would want his followers to be able to mend relationships that have grown cold, to melt the ice between enemies so that they become friends.

Similarly, light has many associations.  Of course, we can see light sources – the sun, a lamp, a light bulb – but by the means of that light, we also see everything else.  If there is no light, we cannot see.  Without light, the most beautiful beach or forest scene, the most inspiring painting or sculpture or other work of art, is invisible, and the beauty is lost.   Without light, we cannot read.  Light also brings a sense of safety and security – criminals hide in the dark and so we may feel unsafe walking outside at night, but we are surprised when crime happens in broad daylight, because we expect light to make criminals feel less emboldened.  Light even affects our mental and emotional state.  I think we’ve all experienced the sense of letdown when it rains for days on end and we can’t see the sun.  Many people are so affected by light that they go into seasonal depression during the winter months – and I know that my own energy level tanks as the days grow shorter – just in time for Advent and Christmas, of course.

The thing about being both salt and light is that we have to contrast with our surroundings.  While salt brings out other flavors, it does so by having a distinctive flavor of its own.  And so Jesus said that salt that has lost its flavor would be worthless.  For those who like Philly soft pretzels, imagine them seasoned with plaster dust instead of salt. They wouldn’t taste quite the same.  At the same time, salt is only useful when it is on food; salt isn’t helpful if it remains in the salt shaker.  And people rarely just munch on blocks of salt, though craving salt in large quantities can be a sign of disease.   And so Jesus didn’t want his people to sit by themselves in a holy huddle, but wanted them to interact with others, and yet maintain their own distinctiveness.  Similarly, light needs to contrast with darkness in order to dispel it.  A candle that’s hidden isn’t of much use in shedding light. 

Jesus wanted his followers to live in ways that brought forth the best in those around them, that revealed beauty while also shining in hidden corners to expose evil.  There’s nothing forceful about salt and light, nothing of browbeating other people into submission.  Living as salt and light is simply about living authentically – being one’s best self – so that others are inspired to be their best selves.  And it’s not about drawing attention to ourselves, any more than salt in a dish draws attention to itself.  (If I like a meal at a restaurant, I generally don’t compliment the chef on the quality of the salt in the dish.)  Rather, it’s about drawing attention to God, about inspiring others to give glory to God, in the same way that we’re not supposed to stare at the sun, but because of the sun’s light we see everything else. 

What does it mean to be salt and light in our context?   And what I’m about to say falls under the heading of “speak your truth, even if your voice shakes”.  Our culture over the past 40 years has become increasingly individualistic, mean-spirited, and, yes, I’ll use the word, hateful.  Hate on talk radio has ruled the airwaves for generations now, and has spread on TV and the internet….and, yes, I’ll say it, hate is spewed by many in leadership at all levels of government.  Hate for poor people, hate for racial and religious and sexual minorities, hate for immigrants and especially their children.     Seeds of hate have been planted for decades, and are bringing forth a harvest of evil…as Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them.”  All through our days, on the radio, on the television, on the internet, there’s a constant  drumbeat of hate, to the extent that in the past three years, Nazis and Klan and militias have marched in the streets, not just a few random nutcases with pillowcases over their heads, but in numbers.  Hate to the extent that churches, synagogues, and mosques – who when we’re at our best, when we’re doing God’s work, are sanctuaries for the poor, for minorities, for immigrants – sanctuaries for the hated - are no longer safe sanctuaries but are targets for vandalism, violence, even murder.  In fact, the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference now offers trainings about how churches should respond if a hater with a gun – an “active shooter” – walks in the door and opens fire.  We once didn’t to have to worry about that possibility, but times have changed.  This is the world we live in now. Given the prejudice that has found a home in this neighborhood as in many neighborhoods, the possibility of some random hater coming here and opening fire is one of the things that has kept me up at night and turned my hair gray.  It’s one of the reasons I’m actually glad we’re worshipping downstairs.  If someone comes in the front door, you can run out the back - I can’t run, but I’ll hold ‘em off with my crutches.  It’s not something I talk about, but there have been moments over the years.  I got one or two weird anonymous letters shortly after I started as pastor here….rambling, disjointed letters, but the gist was – “don’t let those people in”.  Some years later, around the time the food cupboard was opening its doors, people from the neighborhood walked in here before service, warning me not to support the cupboard – of course I’ve supported the cupboard.  And I’m vocal in support of poor people, racial and religious minorities and the LGBT community, immigrants.  And that comes at personal risk.

I say all this not to inspire fear, or to ask us to pull back from serving others.   To the contrary, facing opposition from haters is a sign that we’re doing the right thing, that we’re doing God’s work.  I’d rather be hated than ignored.  To be salt and light in our time is to love those whom our culture tells us to hate, to care for those our culture tells us to despise, to say “yes” to love when those around us are saying “yes” to hate.  Because there are others out there who want to say yes to love….but they’re scared.  By being salt and light, by being a visible voice for love in a culture of hate, we can inspire others who may be timid, to say yes as well. 

In being salt and light, Jesus calls on us to walk a fine line.  We must oppose hate without becoming hateful ourselves.   We cannot overcome hate by hating the haters.  As Dr King taught, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  Let your light so shine that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.   Let your light shine as well.  Amen.

“Chanukah, 5692. ‘Judea dies’, thus says the banner. ‘Judea will live forever’, thus respond the lights.  Our light will outlast their flag.” Rachel Posner, wife of Rabbi Akiva Posner, 1931, Kiel, Germany

“Let your light so shine.”