Epiphany Salt and Light

On Sunday, February 6, I made a request of those attending worship at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Landisville.  I asked them to share stories of ways in which they or others they knew had been "salt" or "light". 

In Matthew 5: 13-20, Jesus says to his disciples, "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 anyting, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on ther lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the sam way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see you good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Jesus says, "You are salt...You are light", not "be" salt and light.  The salt and light of Christ are who we are as his followers, as those for whom he died.  As Jesus' people, we are the essential salt of the earth that provides seasoning, purification, preservation, healing for humanity and the creation by sharing the grace,mercy and peace of God through our actions and words.  We are the light that brightens the darkness by providing for those who are in need, by assuring the fearful, and by freeing the guilt-laden.  From a friendly smile to sacrificial giving of time, talent and finances in honor of our Lord, all that we do in our lives is a means for God to provide glimpses of the Kingdom's presence for others.  This is what it means to be "salt" and "light".

I will be honest and admit that this "Salt and Light Journal" was not my original idea.  The idea came from a preaching blog from Lutheran Seminary that I read in preparation for writing sermons. 

This is what Dr. David Lose suggests, "Start asking people to collect examples of where God has worked through them to help someone else...[T]he goal is 1) to help people start looking for God in the world (thereby gaining a skill many of us sorely lack) and 2) come to believe that they are vessels through which God is working (thereby growing in the name and identity you have called them)."

"You are salt of the earth."  "You are the light of the world."  Take a few moments to share, via email or a note in my church mail box, the ways in which God has worked through you or someone you know to be salt and light in Jesus' name.  I'll share these stories here.

"If salt has lost its saltiness..."  One way to refresh our own "saltiness" is to find encouragement and inspiration in the testimonies of brothers and sisters who share their salt and light experiences.  In this way, and through this journal, we can be salt and light to one another as we, also, give witness to the amazing ways of God so that others may "see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven."