Salt People: Matthew 5:13-20 - Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

[Jesus said:] ¹³“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
 
  ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
 
  ¹⁷“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. ¹⁸For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. ¹⁹Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (NRSV)

It’s Super Bowl Sunday again…

(If last year is any indication), tonight, Americans will consume:

§  1.3 billion chicken wings

§  11.2 million pounds of potato chips

§  14 million slices of pizza (and this is just from Pizza Hut and Domino’s).

In addition to containing unhealthy fat, calories, cholesterol, and carbohydrates, these foods contain copious amounts of salt.  I’m sure you’ve heard a doctor or health expert say that over-consumption of salt can lead to hypertension, which raises your risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. 

So it may come as a surprise to you when Jesus says, “you are the salt of the earth.” 

Yet salt is actually essential for life.  It’s vital to the formation of muscle tissue and the functioning of your central nervous system.  You would die without it.  This is probably why salt has been (until recently) the most sought-after mineral in human history, even more than gold.  This would be why wars have been fought over the control of salt resources.  Roman soldiers were actually paid with salt, which is where we get the word salary. 

In a world without refrigeration, if you didn’t have salt, the food supply ground to a halt.  Salt absorbs bacteria-breeding moisture, particularly in bread, meats and fish, making it an ideal preservative.

Salt was also used as an antiseptic, which is how we get the term saline. 

In the Old Testament, salt seasoned the incense used in Israelite worship (Exod. 30:35, Lev. 2:13, Eze. 43:24).  And, the prophet Elisha throws salt into Jericho’s tainted well, making the water drinkable (2 Kings 2:20-21). 

So when Jesus says, “you are the salt of the earth,” he’s not talking about salt in a shaker or the ludicrous amounts of salt contained in your favorite processed foods.  Jesus is naming you as a bringer of divine life into the world. 

Yet in the same way that we all need to evaluate and rethink the place of salt in our diet, Jesus wants you to think critically about what we’re doing with God’s most precious gifts.  Just like salt, God’s gifts bring life—but their misuse can also take it away.

Last week, Heinz launched an ad campaign aimed at turning the Monday after the Super Bowl (which they call “Smunday”) into a national holiday.  Regardless of whether their efforts prove successful, I see this as a sign of how professional sports have become a religion in our country.  The sheer amounts of money people spend team merchandise and game tickets prove this.

TV Shows, movies, and celebrities have “cult” followings.  People support (and oppose) social causes with religious fervor, over everything from gun rights and free speech to legalizing marijuana. You may say otherwise, but do you believe that you need money, success, and beauty to be happy? 

The harshest truth you and I must face today is that the lack of faithful stewardship of God’s gifts is like eating too much salt…  Not only is it harmful to your physical, emotional, and spiritual health; it’s wreaking havoc on the neighbor and God’s creation.  Imagine that—God’s life-giving gifts destroying life.  That’s what sin is.  And the world we’re living in is a very dark place. 

But today, Jesus tells you the most important truth in life—the truth of who you are.  You are the salt of the world.  You are the light of the world. 

He doesn’t say “if you do this or believe that, then you will be salt and light.”  He says, “you are.”  If you’re male or female, young or old, Republican or Democrat, a new believer or a cradle Lutheran.  You are salt people.  We are salt and light to each other. 

This is good—because life is bland, confusing, frightening and quite frankly, unlivable without salt and light.  This is what God is doing in these chaotic times.  This is what God will be up to when you step out into the world.

I’m reminded of the words to song the children sang this morning: “shine where you are!” 

Do the good that’s nearest to you to do.  Serve the people whose paths cross yours.  Let love, mercy, and patience banish the darkness.

But also, dare to ask Jesus to change your life diet: let Jesus break you of those habits and lifestyles that are keeping you from what God has planned.  Take risks to do good in this world. 

Shine where you are.  Be who you are: salt and light.  Let God’s love make you even saltier and brighten your light—and the glory of God is sure to shine.