Year A 5th Sunday After the Epiphany

Text Matthew 5:13-20 – Pass the Salt.

It doesn’t matter if you go to the local take away or to the finest restaurant, they have something in common.

They will have salt there for your food.

It doesn’t matter if you buy the minimum chips from the fish and chip shop - $3.00 or so, or if you’ve spent around $60 on a juicy tender steak, you’ll have salt there for your tasting.

It might come in one of those cheap paper satchels, or a crystal salt shaker, if it’s not there you’ll ask for it.

It doesn’t matter how much of a celebrity chef you are or if you’re an assistant in the local takeaway, salt will be a vital ingredient.

I love walking into the local fish n chip shop and smelling the salt being shaken onto the freshly cook chips.

You get that tingling feeling on your tongue which is an unbelievable sensation.

Without salt food will taste bland.

Food manufacturers load our food with salt, especially junk food, because they know that our body craves it.

And it doesn’t matter how much salt the food has in it already, we’ll reach for the salt and just give it a little sprinkle.

It’s no wonder that Jesus uses salt as an image for Christians in today’s Gospel reading.

“You are the salt of the earth” (V13).

As Christians we make a difference in the world.

It might not seem that way as much of the world either rejects or ridicules us.

But we are like that salt that sits on the table –insignificant until needed.

We’re not the focal point, but if it’s not there something is missing.

Diners haven’t come into the restaurant because they’ve heard they’ve got great salt in there – but they will reach for us at some point.

We often misread what Jesus says believing this is a command.

Jesus is not telling us to be salt in the world.

No, he’s telling us that we are salt in the world.

It can be very discouraging trying to live out our faith in our daily lives.

It seems that morals are a thing of the past.

When we try to express any sort of decency we are ridiculed and reminded that this is the 21st Century, not the 18th Century.

The challenge for us is to not be discouraged in our faith and to not stop being examples of good and right living.

Paul encourages us:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9).

Salt has many qualities that it brings:

Salt brings out the flavour of food.

As Christians, we too can bring out the flavour of life.

We have the greatest news of life – that we are loved unconditionally by God.

So many people search for meaning in life and we have it.

That God, in his unconditional love for us has assured us of our eternal life in heaven.

Being salt in the world is not about correcting people’s behaviour.

That’s not what salt does to food.

Salt doesn’t correct food – it enhances it and adds flavour.

But, if you put too much salt on food it will ruin it.

And if you consume too much salt, you will cause harm to your health.

So we should be careful – we can be moral but we shouldn’t moralise.

Being salt is about bringing out the flavour of life not altering it.

Salt is also a preservative.

Salt will enable the preservation of the good that might otherwise be lost.

So too we are called to live moral and ethical lives.

To preserve decency and morality in a world that believes we can do whatever we like.

It doesn’t matter if people think our views are irrelevant or outdated.

It doesn’t matter if everyone else is acting in a certain way – we don’t need to.

We can be an example of righteous living.

But sometimes salt will sting.

If you’ve got a cold sore or a cut in your mouth, the salt will sting as it touches the open wound.

So too, sometimes by our standing up for Christian principles it will sting the world.

It may even sting us.

But that sting is good, because salt also has healing properties.

Salt water at the beach will heal sores on your body.

So too, we can bring healing to the world – but it won’t like it because it stings.

We can lobby, we can complain, we can write petitions if a situation needs it.

We can point out injustices and demand justice for others.

We can live our lives and refuse to participate in the ways of the world being examples of right living.

Jesus also said we are the light of the world.

It’s a similar image if we think of the role that light plays in the Bible.

It was the very first word spoken by God – Let there be light – a word of light that became flesh and lived among us – the light that broke the darkness of sin.

A light that was rejected by the world –

As John says: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (John 1:9,10).

As we are the light of the world it helps us to understand why the world does not receive us also.

If we don’t understand that then we will continue to think that the church is failing – that’s what the world keeps telling us.

But could you imagine a world without the church?

The church isn’t a human made community.

Our Mission Statements confirm that:

Ringwood: Living the Word – a people formed by God to be his presence to those around us.

Knox: Called to worship – Chosen to Serve.

The church is the body of Christ and the assurance that God is still concerned for the world.

There is enough wickedness and evil in society for God to bring about the judgment today.

But he’s not going to do that because his church is in the world.

What would neighbourhoods be like if there were no local church?

Where would people turn to in time of need?

Who would bring a word of comfort and hope in suffering and death?

If there were no church and no Christians, what would be the conscience of the world?

What would be the point of living if this is all there is?

God’s light broke the chaos that formed at the beginning of creation.

We read: The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

So too, you are separated from the darkness – but in the world.

And remember, this is the first day – the sun was only created on day 3 – this light is the glory of God that breaks into the world and you are that light and glory.

You are the light, and irrespective of whether the world accepts you and receives you – you are God’s light.

We heard in last week’s Gospel:

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.

Many of us feel tired and wonder whether it is worth continuing to fight the good fight.

In the mess of the world, even though there is much good, our call and challenge is to be the people who give the world the right flavour and provide vision through the gloomy times that are inevitable.

Salt isn’t the food: it doesn’t bring flavour to food. 

It enhances flavours already in food. 

If we are the salt of the earth, then we, the children of God, add flavour to creation. 

We enhance the beauty and meaning of life. 

Being a Christian means more than following a moral code. 

It calls us to make the world more flavour filled. 

Jesus calls us let our light shine in our communities so others will see and praise God. 

As Christians we add to our communities as we live out our Mission Statements:

Ringwood: Living the Word – a people formed by God to be his presence to those around us.

Knox: Called to worship – Chosen to Serve.

The peace of God that surpasses our understanding, keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus.