You are the light of the world

 

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  

 

 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

 

- Matthew 5:11-16 

 

At this relatively early stage in Christ's ministry, St. Matthew reports that His fame has already gathered to Him many multitudes, especially due to His miraculous healings (which include the casting out of demons).  Yesterday we read that, seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."   This beginning of the Sermon on the Mount gives us Jesus' Beatitudes, and we continue today.

 

  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  My study Bible comments that those who suffer persecution for Christ walk the road of the prophets, saints, and martyrs.  It explains that the Greek for be exceedingly glad means literally to "leap exceedingly with joy."  See also Acts 5:40-41.

 

  "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  My study Bible says that salt and light give us a picture of the role of disciples in society.  Salt has preservative powers, is necessary for life, and gives flavor; from these qualities it had religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5).  To eat salt with someone meant to be bound together in loyalty, covenant.  As the salt of the earth, my study Bible says, Christians are preservers of God's covenant and give true flavor to the world.  Also, we know that God is the true and uncreated Light.  In the Old Testament, light is symbolic of God (Isaiah 60:1-3), of the divine Law (Psalm 119:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations.  In the New Testament, the Son of God is called "light" (John 1:4-9, 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  My study Bible comments that light is necessary both for clear vision and for life itself.  Faith relies upon this divine light, and believers become "sons of light" (John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) who shine in a perverse world (Philippians 2:15).  In many Orthodox parishes, the Pascha (Easter) Liturgy begins with a candle being presented and the invitation to "come receive the Light which is never overtaken by night."

 

Salt and light are given as two images of what Christians are to be in their societies, and in the world.  Salt, as my study Bible explains, means covenant.  It means loyalty.  It is a binding agent, a fixative, and hence it had great significance in the ancient world, besides being a necessity for life, and a preservative for food. But Jesus also speaks of salt in terms of flavor.  How we live our faith matters, the nature of our covenant and loyalty, our capacity to adhere to faith is crucial.  It gives a particular enhancement of flavor to the world, and in Jesus' illustration, makes all the difference.  It brings something essential to the table, so to speak, within the societies which Christians inhabit.  He speaks of the faithful as the salt of the earth (meaning our planet, the globe), implying an element that is worth the effort to dig for, to value, and to consider an important part of the composition of our world and the life of the Creation.  (See this article on Halite, natural rock salt.)  At the same time, He speaks of believers as the light of the world.  This word translated as world is κοσμος/kosmos in the Greek, and it means all of Creation, the universe and everything in it.  It comes from a root in Greek that means adornment, decoration, God's beautiful order.  It's related to the concept of a jewel or jewelry, so we can imagine what light is to a jewel in this context.  If God's beautiful order and creation needs light, then faith and faithful believers are that light.  As my study Bible teaches, we know that Christ is the original "uncreated" Light, but Jesus is speaking of light that illumines all of the creation.  In this context, the faithful are a light that illumines what God has made.  So the effects of faithful living by Christ's gospel make the world more clear to us, show us where we are and what the world is truly like, illuminating the facets of a jewel created by God.  Light is indispensable for us to find our way, and in this context, forms an illumination that guides the way for all, no doubt rooted in the spiritual fruits that Jesus says cast glory upon God.  If we take a good look at the fruit of the Spirit as named by St. Paul, we can correlate such virtues with all of the qualities that Christ names in the Beatitudes in yesterday's reading, above (see Galatians 5:22-23 for the fruit of the Spirit).  Such things form the light that shines in the world before all people, that illumines and glorifies God, as we reflect the light given to us in our faith.  In this light, we are able to see the purposes for which we've been blessed with God's creation, hold it in right relationship, and even to bless the world with its illumination, showing what is possible in the light of Christ.  Let us remember our loyalty and our light -- where it comes from and to whom we are dedicated, for "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17).  In the following chapter, as Jesus continues this sermon, He will give us the prayer known as the Lord's Prayer, or the "Our Father."  Here, in today's reading, He is teaching us what it means to be the salt and light of "our Father" in this world, and to reflect God's glory back to Him.  This is what it means to be His faithful disciples, to live the gospel message He gives us in this sermon.  Let us be true to His teaching, and remember how important and essential we as faithful are to the world in His sight.  

 

 

 

 

Salt and Light

 

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

 

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall  it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men,  that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

 

- Matthew 5:11-16 

 

 Yesterday, we began reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapter 5 - 7).  St. Matthew writes:  And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

 

  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  My study Bible tells us that those who suffer persecution for Christ walk the road of the prophets, saints, and martyrs.  The Greek for be exceedingly glad means to "leap exceedingly with joy" (see Acts 5:40-41).  

 

 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall  it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men,  that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  Salt and light illustrate the role of disciples in society, says my study Bible.  It notes that because of the preservative powers of salt, its necessity for life, and its ability to give flavor, it had both religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5).  To eat salt with someone meant to be bound together in loyalty.  As the salt of the earth, it says, Christians are preservers of God's covenant and give true flavor to the world.  Regarding light, God is the true and uncreated Light.  In the Old Testament, light is symbolic of God (Isaiah 60:1-3), the divine Law (Psalm 119:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations.  In the New Testament, the Son of God is called "light" (John 1:4-9, 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  Light, it continues, is necessary both for clear vision and for life itself.  Faith relies on this divine light, and believers become "sons of light" (John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) who shine in a perverse world (Philippians 2:15).  In many Orthodox parishes, the Pascha (Easter) Liturgy begins with a candle being presented and the invitation to "come receive the Light which is never overtaken by night."  Finally, we come to understand that Christian virtues have both a personal and a public function; for, as my study Bible says, our virtue can bring others to glorify the Father.

 

What does it mean to be salt and light?   Jesus is speaking of believers in two ways here, as my study Bible explains.  There is first of all the integrity of salt, if you will.  That is, salt as a symbol of fidelity and steadfastness, not being wishy-washing, but firm in belief and values.  In that sense, salt binds a relationship, a relationship of community to Creator in this instance.  It is a symbol of loyalty -- of adherence to covenant.  This very steadfastness and loyalty to Christ is spoken of as "flavor," a sense in which this ingredient, liberally sprinkled adds powerful enhancement to the good things of the community, the society, and the world.  It is like the magic crystals that make everything better, turning life from just okay to delicious and appetizing, even good for you.  Having recently bought some sea salt crystals, there is this experience of something bursting with flavor on top of whatever food one has made or is eating, and this is the way that Christ sees faithful living among the society, as that which gives bursts of delight and brings out what is there in ways that magnify and give beauty to culture, the same way that a tradition of good cooking does, to make life appetizing and gracious.  Light goes without saying -- there is nothing that can be seen without light.  Light reflects upon all things, and by it and that action we can see what is what.  In this sense, light gives us the advantage of truth, of knowing where we are, how to navigate life, and to negotiate its curves.  Light in this sense is truth, and it allows us to discern the nature of things, even the details we might not see otherwise, or blur to ourselves without really looking in the dark corners.  Jesus says, "Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going" (John 12:35).  He speaks of Himself as light in that case, and His life in the world.  But here in the Sermon on the Mount, He is asking us to bear His light into the world, to become His light, to share His light and His truth by allowing it to shine in us and in our lives.  This is only possible through faith, and through faithful living, hence the indispensable quality of salt to be matched with our light.  Light shines through things, it reflects off of things,it clarifies things, and teaches us discernment, separating good from bad, distinguishing the differences and the nuances as well.  In Christ's light we distinguish false from true, and are taught to recognize heresy so that we don't go down that path.   It's part of the measure of all things.  And, lest we forget, light in Christ's time came from lamps that burned fire, not light bulbs, and the fire one reads about in the Scriptures is so often derivative or descriptive of the Holy Spirit and the Spirit's action in the world.  When Jesus speaks of believers as light, it's as well that we think of carrying lamps illumined by flames, or torches, because we carry that fire of faith and belief that can test out gold from dross, an energy that burns and consumes but also purifies and enlightens, a flame shared with us from the fire of the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ.  John the Baptist came preaching that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, and here is the fire of that Holy Baptism, given to us, and what we are expected by Christ to do with it (see Matthew 3:11).  The image may be old fashioned to our ears and eyes, but nevertheless it remains the same, stunning in its message all this time later just as it was 2,000 years ago, in the timeless quality of Jesus' words.  For His word is also that flame in our hearts, as we must bear that into the world, too.  Let us remember what He asks of us today. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven

 
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

 

- Matthew 5:13–20 

 

This week, we read through the Sermon on the Mount, in preparation for Lent.  Yesterday we read that,  seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

 

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  My study Bible comments here that salt and light illustrate the role of disciples in society.  Due to its preservative powers, its necessity for life, and its capacity for giving flavor, salt had both religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5).  To eat salt with someone meant that people were bound together in loyalty.  To this day salt remains used in chemical processes for its fixative properties.  As the salt of the earth, my study Bible explains, Christians are preserver's of God's covenant and give true flavor to the world.  In terms of light, we know first of all that God is the true and uncreated Light.  In the Old Testament, my study Bible comments, light is symbolic of God (Isaiah 60:1-3), the divine Law (Psalm 119:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations.  In the New Testament, the Son of God is called "light" (John 1:4-9; 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  Light is needed for clear vision, and even for life itself in this world.  Faith relies on the divine light, and believers become "sons of light" (John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) shining in a perverse world (Philippians 2:15).  In many Eastern Orthodox parishes, the Pascha (or Easter) Liturgy starts with a candle being presented as the invitation to "come receive the Light which is never overtaken by night."  My study Bible adds of this last verse here that Christian virtues have both a personal and a public function, for our virtue can bring others to glorify the Father.  

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill."  My study Bible explains that Jesus fulfills the Law in Himself, in His words, and in His actions.  He does so in the following ways:  He performs God's will in all its fullness (Matthew 3:15); He transgresses no precepts of the Law (John 8:46; 14:30); He declares the perfect fulfillment of the Law, which in this Sermon He is about to deliver to the people; and He grants righteousness -- the goal of the Law -- to us (Romans 3:31; 8:3-4; 10:4).  He fulfills the Prophets both by being and by carrying out what they foretold.

"For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."  The word translated as assuredly is literally "Amen."  It means "truly," or "confirmed," or "so be it," my study Bible explains.  Here Jesus is using it as a solemn affirmation, which is a form of oath.  His use of this word at the beginning of certain proclamations -- as opposed to the end -- is unique and authoritative, my study Bible tells us.  He declares His words affirmed even before they are spoken.  A jot (Greek ιωτα/iota) is the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet.  A tittle is the smallest stroke in certain Hebrew letters.  So, therefore, the whole of the Law is here affirmed as the foundation of Christ's new teaching.  All is fulfilled refers to Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

 

"Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."  My study Bible comments that righteousness according to the Law is a unified whole.  It says that the observance of all the least commandments is to observe the whole Law, while the violation of the least commandment is considered a violation of the whole Law.  

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."  Righteousness that leads to salvation must exceed that of the Pharisees, my study Bible explains, because theirs was an outward, works-based righteousness.  The righteousness of salvation is the communion of the heart, soul, mind, and body in Jesus Christ.  True righteousness is to live in a state of continual communion with God.  By faith in Christ, we receive God's righteousness.  

If true righteousness is an ongoing communion with God, how do we achieve that?  We first need to understand that Christ came into the world as a human being in order to achieve this level of communion, this righteousness, so that we may be justified by faith.  That is, we live, and may receive an eternal life, a more abundant life, through this communion made possible through the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We partake of His life through the Eucharist, seeking to live our faith and to grow in that faith, deepening a communion that extends through all things, as my study Bible indicates when it speaks of the communion of heart, soul, mind, and body in Jesus Christ.  Jesus' teachings in today's reading give us clues about how this works through our lives in the comments that we believers are both salt and light.  As salt, we bear His covenant into the world, giving the real "flavor" of this righteousness, holding firm in faith to His teachings and living them as fully as we can, in all these ways named.  As light, we seek to reflect His light back into the world, to carry it within ourselves and share it with others, to add such "illumination" to all the things in which we might participate as part of our life's experience and the living of our faith.  In this way, Jesus says, we glorify our Father in heaven -- and so, in that sense also, we become "like Him," we imitate Christ in the living of our faith.  But Christ's righteousness also includes the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets; there is nothing left out.  My study Bible calls the Law a cohesive whole; it says that to violate the least Law is to violate the whole of it, and to uphold one Law is to uphold the whole.  In other words, the Law itself can be thought of as something representing communion in its wholeness.  If we recall that Christ's gospel is the gospel of the Kingdom, then we must consider what it means to be a part of a communion -- this communion of the Kingdom -- to step into it through faith, and for it to grow within us (like the parable of the leaven).   So we consider Christ's teachings and begin to understand that there is a depth of communion we're invited into, and the life's journey that our faith is meant to be for us is one of deepening communion.  In a comment on Romans 3:26, my study Bible notes that righteousness by faith is not a one-time declaration or "not guilty" verdict.  We are to understand it as Christ living in us, and we in Him (Galatians 2:20).  So, to be justified by righteousness is to be in communion with Christ in an ongoing, dynamic, and growing life with Him -- developing a deeper reliance upon Christ through our own struggles with faith, insights, a prayerful life, and the practices of our faith.  This is a dynamic that reaches down into the heart and soul and should be lived (as a goal) with every breath.  Let us simply begin with His images here of salt and light, and imagine what it means to live as both, in such a way as to glorify our Father in heaven, becoming a "child of light" through our Shepherd, Christ. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven

 

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

 

- Matthew 5:11-16 

 

Yesterday we read that Jesus, seeing the multitudes, went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

 

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."   Those who suffer persecution for Christ walk the same road of the prophets, saints, and martyrs, my study Bible tells us.  To be exceedingly glad as written in the original Greek literally means to "leap exceedingly with joy."  (See Acts 5:40-41.)  Clearly the rejoicing and delight is meant to be proportional to the suffering endured for the love of Christ.

 

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  My study Bible tells us that salt and light illustrate the role of disciples in society.  Salt was an extremely important and precious commodity in the ancient world.  Because of its preservative powers, its necessity for life, and its ability to give flavor, salt had both a religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5).  To eat salt with someone, my study Bible explains, meant to be bound together in loyalty.  As the salt of the earth, Christians are the preservers of God's covenant and give true flavor to the world.  Regarding light, it first comments that the true and uncreated Light is God.  In the Old Testament, light is symbolic of God (Isaiah 60:1-3), the divine Law (Psalm 119:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations.  In the New Testament, the Son of God is called "light" (John 1:4-9, 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  Light is necessary for clear vision so that we see correctly, and also for life itself.  My study Bible declares that faith relies on this divine light, and believers become "sons of light" (John 12:36, 1 Thessalonians 5:5) who shine in a perverse world (Philippians 2:15).  In many parishes, particularly in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Pascha (Easter) Liturgy begins with a candle presented and the invitation to "come receive the Light which is never overtaken by night."

What does it mean to "let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven"?  How do we let our light shine?  This has become a common expression in the modern West, thanks likely to a popular song or two of recent decades.  Often, in a pop context, to let one's light shine reflects not a spiritual context, but some sort of context of talent or star quality.  It might even take on moral tones for many as well, with "good deeds" done before others as a way of expressing good character.  Mostly it seems used to reflect a sense of self which might otherwise be lost in the crowd, a way of being noticed for the fruits of one's abilities or perhaps even a stellar persona.  Of course, the songs themselves were meant to have a spiritual and Christian character, reflective of today's Gospel passage.  But in today's media-saturated world of self-generated selfies and stories, and following the popular culture of Hollywood "stars" and generated publicity and PR, the whole sense of the phrase has -- like so much else -- taken on the tone of popular myth and self-fulfillment, a particular understanding of destiny.  But if we think of Christ's phrase as simply encouraging us to gather praise or applause from peers or the world around us, then we've quite obviously missed the first part of this sermon, which exalted the blessedness of the virtues of the Kingdom, hidden from and even persecuted by the world.  In light of the rest of Christ's sermon (which will include later remarks which are extremely critical of those who do even good religious deeds in order to be seen by others) then we have to carefully consider what it means to let one's light so shine that others may see our good works and glorify God.  Jesus puts these remarks in the context of what He says earlier about being persecuted for righteousness' sake, or being denigrated by the world because of our love of Christ.  Clearly, what He telling us is that we should be fearless nevertheless in doing the things that are pleasing to Him, and this becomes the context of the salt together with the light.  The salt indicates covenant, loyalty, a life which is lived out of dedication to God the Holy Trinity, and particularly to Christ, the Incarnate Son.  There are times when we will "do good" -- that is, we will do the things we believe Christ asks of us -- and we will not receive approval from all for doing so.  Even an act of kindness or charity can sometimes, strange as it seems, be met with some sort of critical reception, a cost to be paid by those who reject such acts.  It is within this context that we are to let our light shine -- a light reflective of the light of Christ, of God -- and be unafraid and unashamed to do so nevertheless.  A kind word here for one that others might rather abuse, a protective action for someone who would otherwise be victimized, standing up to bullying or even a conspiracy to harm or defraud in some way:  all of these are examples of actions of doing good which might not be met with approval by those around ourselves, friends or even family who won't like that we are letting that light shine in the darkness they'd prefer.  We might even find ourselves seeking to help in ways others will insist are meant with evil ulterior motive, hence Jesus' warning about being "reviled."  There are times, in my experience, when even our acts of charity may be disparaged.  We're not meant to think that we live in a world that is pure light; that's not the picture the Gospels paint for us.  Indeed, we're told that the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it (comprehend meaning both to "take in" and to "understand"); see John 1:5, which in the original Greek has the same double meaning for "comprehend."  But nonetheless, we're given light so that we shine it; it is the gospel message and mission, and we need to understand that it is at once powerful, and also might spark powerful consequences.  This is why Christ also counsels prudence to His disciples when they're sent out on their first mission, and He tells them they are to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).  To let one's light so shine is not a declaration of some sort of explosive self-expression in the sense of personal fame or glory, but rather an invitation to courage, prudence, strength, endurance, and especially a kind of integrity in fidelity to Him.  It may ask of us caution and wisdom, yet nevertheless be treated as a city on a hill, and is nevertheless the light of the world, and a lamp that gives light to all in the house.  Near the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Christ will caution His disciples not to cast our pearls before swine, indicating that letting one's light shine also demands discernment.  Jesus is encouraging His followers to be courageous and strong, and to endure in following His commandments, even exalting their times of persecution for His sake, telling the they should be "exceedingly glad."  Let us consider the power in that light, and the strength, joy, and character that is forged by carrying it into the world -- as well as the discernment it demands of us.  Our goal is not to glorify ourselves, but our Father in heaven.

 

You are the light of the world

Easter liturgy, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

- Matthew 5:11-16

Yesterday we read that, seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.   Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  These blessings, which Jesus continues to express in today's reading, are known as the Beatitudes, and Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount, which will continue through chapter 7.

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."   Jesus  is speaking to His disciples.  What He's indicating is that those who suffer persecution for faith in His Kingdom are walking the road of the prophets, saints, and martyrs.  In Greek, the word translated as be exceedingly glad means literally to "leap exceedingly with joy,"  indicating tremendous exaltation.  (See Acts 5:40-41.) 

 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."  Jesus sets out a comparison of His followers to two elements of the world:  salt and light.  They illustrate the role of disciples in society.  Salt's preservative powers, necessity for life, and ability to give flavor meant it had both religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5).  To eat salt with someone meant to be bound together in loyalty.  My study bible says that as the salt of the earth, Christians are preservers of God's covenant and give true flavor to the world.

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  God is the true and uncreated Light.  In the Old Testament, light is symbolic of God (Isaiah 60:1-3), the divine Law (Psalms 119:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations.  In the New Testament, the Son of God is called "light" (John 1:4-9, 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  My study bible explains that light is necessary both for clear vision and for life itself.  Faith relies on this divine light, and believers become "sons of light" (John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) who shine in a perverse world (Philippians 2:15).   In many Orthodox parishes, the Easter liturgy begins with a candle presented and the invitation in a Paschal hymn to "come receive the Light which is never overtaken by night."  Through the virtues Jesus extols in this sermon, faith has both a personal and public function.  Our virtue, my study bible notes, can bring others to glorify the Father. 

Salt and light give us images of preservative power, something that fixes another substance in the world, gives flavor, and enhances everything -- and that which fills the world with its energy, giving life to all things which are dependent upon those life-giving energies.  Light is importantly, in the Scriptures, also a metaphor for truth.  It is a conveyance of reality, of what truly is -- and even more deeply of spiritual truth.  Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12).  In that context, light is not only truth and the reality of what truly is; it is also the very thing that gives life.  But even life is more than existence and the fact of our conscious awareness of ourselves as living beings.  Life and light are the true energies of God, which create from nothing, and which convey to us the something so-much-more than merely surviving or existing.  Salt and light, then, become the very elements that make life worth living -- that give life flavor, warmth, glowing values that radiate goodness and joy.  These are gifts that come from God, but by becoming salt and light ourselves, we become those things for the world.  We may radiate the qualities given to us through participation in the life of Christ, and so become beings who carry those gifts to the world.  Are human beings capable of great joy?  Are they capable of transcendence?  Can they give value to the world that elevates human life to something invaluable?  All of these questions come from the record of faith that tells us that we are so much more than intelligent animals -- that we as bearers of the image of our Creator also have creative gifts with which we are endowed to illuminate and beautify the world.  To become salt and light is to bear divine realities into the world, to radiate an incomparable value around oneself.  We learn through Christ that human beings are meant to be bearers of a divine light, that each one is capable or has the potential to be a child of light, "sons of God" (see yesterday's reading, above).  We are not meant for mere existence, but for something infinitely beyond the sense of that kind of life in which we only survive.  "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).  Don't let anyone tell you different; we become full of this life through participation and discipleship. 

You are the light of the world

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

- Matthew 5:11-16

In yesterday's reading, Jesus began to preach the Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the Beatitudes.  Seeing the multitudes who were now coming to Him, Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.  Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  My study bible suggests here that those who suffer persecution for Christ walk the road of the prophets, saints, and martyrs.  The Greek here for be exceedingly glad means to "leap exceedingly with joy."  (See Acts 5:40-41.)  Jesus has just given us the Beatitudes, a series of blessings with which those who follow this Kingdom are endowed.  We may call them the "happinesses" -- a joy and peace that permeate life even in times its material conditions may not be those considered in terms of prosperity or acquisition:  a blessed kind of life independent of and coexistent with the state of one's world.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men."  Jesus describes those who follow His way of life as salt and light.  Both are necessary for human life.  Salt was a preservative, and also something that gave enhancement to the flavor of nourishment.  It had both religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19, 2 Chronicles 13:5).  Eating salt with someone meant to be bound together in loyalty.  Those who would be the salt of the earth are those who preserve God's covenant and give true flavor to the world. 

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  The true and uncreated Light is God (in the Creed we call Christ "Light from Light").   God is symbolized by light in the Old Testament (Isaiah 60:1-3), the divine Law (Psalm 118:105), and Israel in contrast to all other nations.  In the New Testament, the Son of God is called "light" (John 1:4-9; 8:12; 1 John 1:5).  Light is both necessary for life, and also for the capacity to see clearly.  In faith, we rely on the divine light for spiritual illumination, and believers become "sons of light" (John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) who shine in a dark and at times twisted and corrupt world (Philippians 2:15).  At Easter in many churches around the world, parishioners are called to "come receive the Light," symbolized in the Paschal candle.  As Christians, we are called to be "light" in the world, to glorify the Father:  this is both personal and public, as it can bring others into this place of sharing in and bearing the light, a testimony.

Jesus teaches His disciples that, as "salt" and "light," those who follow His Way, they are the glory of God.  They are in some sense the treasure of God in the world.  Light and salt give us images of the value of those who seek this way, who will be His disciples, and carry within them the power of spiritual salt and light into the world.  If we think of traditional portrayals of holy people -- Christ, Mary, and the saints of the Church -- we think of haloes.  They are like crowns of light carried by those who are illumined with holy light.  This is a way to see in Christ's words the way that God is glorified through those who will be this light in the world.  Salt, as preservative, is indicative of those who will be bound with His Covenant, who are loyal to His word, true disciples.  All of this is indicative of the importance of Christ's disciples to God, the necessity of this light that must shine into the world.  We can think that this is the purpose for which He has come into the world, so that the glory of God will be reflected through those who become light and salt in His name, in His word.  It gives us a picture of the deep love invested in us, in human beings, and the confidence of God that we are made to carry God's light, God's nature (if you will) in the world.  We are created to become more and more "like God."  Let us consider the ways in which His light transforms us, and creates in us the people of God, those who will carry His likeness into the world.  What things must we cast off in order to do so?  What is incompatible with loving His light?  

Salt and Light

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

"You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

- Matthew 5:11-16

Yesterday, we began reading the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5-7 in Matthew).  The beginning of this Sermon is called the Beatitudes, a series of spiritual blessings for those in the Kingdom.  Seeing the multitudes, Jesus went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Here, my study bible says, "In willingness to suffer persecution, the Christian shows his loyalty and unity with Jesus Christ.  He walks the road of the prophets, saints and martyrs. The Greek for be exceedingly glad [αγαλλιάω] means 'leap exceedingly with joy.'  Suffering for Christ is attended with inexpressible joy.".

 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."  A note here tells us that "salt and light illustrate the role of disciples in society.  They are to manifest the light of patient goodness, bringing glory to their Father in heaven."  Regarding salt, it notes:  Because of its preservative powers, necessity for life and its ability to give flavor (Job 6:6; Sirach 39:26), salt had religious and sacrificial significance (Leviticus 2:13; Ezra 6:9; Ezekiel 43:24).  It symbolized the making of a covenant (Leviticus 2:13; see also Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5).  To eat salt with someone meant to be bound together in loyalty.  Thus as the salt of the earth, Christians are preservers of God's covenant and give proper flavor to society."  Of light, we are told that "light is a symbol of God who is the true, uncreated Light.  In the Old Testament light is symbolic of God (Isaiah 60:1-3), the divine Law (Psalm 119:105), or Israel in contrast to the Gentiles.  In the New Testament the Son is called 'light' (John 1:4-5, 9; 1 John 1:5) and the 'light of the world' (John 8:12).  Light is necessary not only for clear vision but for life.  Consequently, the life of faith relies on the divine light (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 1:18) and on the revelation which makes the believers 'sons of light (Luke 16:8; John 12:36; Eph. 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5).  With this knowledge of God in their hearts (2 Corinthians 4:6), Christians shine as lights in a perverse world (Philippians 2:15), stimulating others to look to God and His righteousness.  Thus in the Easter Liturgy (Gr. Pascha), a candle is brought forth with these words: 'Come take the Light which is never overtaken by night.'"

 So, what does it mean to become salt and light, to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world?  These are powerfully strong declarations about Jesus' family, His real followers.  They follow another strong declaration:  "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake."  Strong and powerful words, indicating that suffering for Jesus' sake is a blessing.   This kind of declaration would normally sound like one of a Roman emperor, or some all-powerful king with an extraordinarily grandly inflated idea of himself, because of his absolute power in a worldly sense.  However, Jesus has just finished preaching His blessings (the Beatitudes) which exalt meekness, peacemaking, mourning, and all forms of attributes with humility at their heart, of which He is will be the great example ("Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light"  - Matthew 11:29-30).   When this particular Teacher tells us about being salt and light, persons reflecting the image of Christ in both loyalty and His great Light, it's not from an inflated and arrogant idea about a kind of loyalty that amounts to slavery.  This is an entirely different kind of covenant, and we would do well to try hard to understand the difference between a worldly slavishness and this call of love from Shepherd to sheep.  To be loyal to Christ is to be bound in love to the One who loves us best, and who always wants what is actually best for us.  To reflect His light is to reflect a light of true love, one that doesn't merely indulge (as in the indulgence of a spoiled child, which is not truly what is best for the child at all), but rather teaches, leads, and builds maturity and growth, bringing out the best of our potentials as human beings created in the image of God.  And this is what we must see about this covenant of salt, the light of life that illuminates us so that we may be reflections of that light into the world.  When Jesus preaches His Beatitudes (in yesterday's reading), He's preaching the virtues of those who may be illuminated, who have spiritual insight into their lives, attaining a kind of self-mastery that transcends merely impulse and self-centeredness and one-upmanship, rising above the slavery to the world around us and into true spiritual freedom to choose for ourselves what is actually best.   This is where the Shepherd takes us, and He wants only true volunteers in the sense that our loyalty and light must be a reflection of love for Him, and for others.  That's where our true Father takes us.  That is the Light of life that shines in whatever darkness may be around us.  And that love between us is the real salt that gives us savour, and takes us beyond banality and insipidness of a life without such meaning.  This is where we look for richness in our lives, blessings that are not just what we have, but who we are, who we become in His light and the salt that is within us.  What we do with salt and light savours and illumines a whole world.  Can we be this image He calls us toward, in what is truly best for us?