Rev. Carlos Uroza
Scripture: Matthew 5:13-16 (CEB)
“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? It’s good for nothing except to be thrown away and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.”
Introduction:
May the light of Christ be with you today. As we gather, I want to reflect on a powerful message from Jesus that speaks to our identity and mission as His followers. Right after Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, He calls us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. These aren't just poetic phrases but a profound call to action. They remind us of how we must value and preserve the message of the Gospel and engage with our community to be faithful disciples of Christ.
Salt:
We all know and use salt daily, but its significance goes far beyond the kitchen. In ancient times, salt was so valuable that it was used as currency, leading to the term "salary," which we still use today. Salt was essential for preserving food, purifying, and enhancing flavor. When Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, He's telling us that we carry immense value in this world. But what are we preserving? Ourselves? The religious institutions, our social and political status? No, we are preserving the very message of the Gospel found in the Beatitudes.
As Christians, we are called to preserve the goodness of the Gospel—the kindness, compassion, and love of Christ—not as rigid doctrine but as living truths that enhance the lives of those around us. Just as salt enhances the flavor of food, we are called to enhance the goodness in our communities, bringing out the best in others and preserving what is pure and true. We are called not to impose but to enhance because "hear the good news… God is already working out there.”
Being salt means recognizing our worth as representatives of Christ. It's about protecting the Good News and ensuring it remains vibrant and relevant in a world often more concerned with control and self-preservation than with love and grace.
Light:
Jesus also calls us the light of the world, meant to shine brightly and guide others. Think of a miner working in the depths of a dark tunnel, relying on the light from their helmet to navigate safely. That light doesn't just help the miner; it reveals the path and uncovers hidden treasures in the darkness. It shows the places where God is already at work through God’s prevenient grace. Even with the light, we must remain observant and diligent, understanding the great value we bring—not by our human capacity but by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Listen:
In my journey, I spent a year listening to the needs of our community, and what I discovered was humbling. I realized that many people already knew the neighborhood far better than I did and were already working to meet those needs. Like the miner's light, the light of Christ within us doesn't just reveal the needs; it also shows the people already doing God's work. By listening and observing, we saw the great potential our ministry could have by addressing the needs, not just our church's wants.
After spending a year listening to the community, we established relationships and gained trust with the people and schools in our neighborhood. We asked them about their most significant challenges. These included the economic violence of high costs of living and the displacement of families, food scarcity, and the need for mentorship and tutoring of children and youth. In other times, we might have been quick to think about starting a new ministry in our building to address those needs. Our human nature often turns opportunities into a way to self-preserve our churches. Instead, we looked outward for ways our church members could turn their faith into discipleship, enhancing and shining the light in our community.
Enhance:
In partnership with our sister non-profit organization, Cosecha Community Development, we began finding ways to address those needs in the field, walking alongside people with a heart for the community. We identified those already giving their time and effort to care for the local school garden. We met Celia, a mom who had tirelessly worked to care for the space. We provided her with the tools she needed, helped her become the official garden manager, and empowered her to lead. She taught us how to teach children to grow food and feed them. Today, Celia helps us provide an experience for more than 500 children year-round to learn, eat, and grow in the garden. Celia became a good friend and is now a great partner in ministry.
Through Celia's work, we also met Catherine, a neighbor who one day showed up at our community farmers market that we host at our church. She heard what we were doing and immediately jumped in to help and envision opportunities to help our neighbors. Today, Catherine is one of our community cultivators at our local middle school, where she is starting a new garden, following Celia's steps and opening new opportunities for students to learn how to grow food and cook it through our cooking club. Through this work, we celebrate that chronic absenteeism at the middle school is lower when we offer these programs. Celia and Catherine help others in our neighborhood, and our church members work together.
This experience taught me that being the light of the world is not about taking center stage. It's about seeing where God is already at work and joining in. It's about observing and recognizing the good already happening and finding ways to support and enhance it.
The Beatitudes teach us about a present reality that only God fully perceives and a future we can hope for if we respond to the call to preserve the beauty of the Gospel and humble ourselves. Our value as the salt of the earth does not come from us but from Christ, who lives in us. And being the light is not about taking center stage and imposing our will, but about illuminating the path so that others may see.
Rediscovering Our Neighbors:
Before we go out into the world as salt and light, we need to grasp the value of Jesus' teachings and the depth of His compassion and love for all people. This is the foundation of our mission. We must understand and embrace Jesus's love for everyone, from the marginalized to the powerful.
Take time to notice where God is already moving in your community. Who are the unsung heroes quietly making a difference? What needs are being met, and where can your gifts enhance what's already happening?
Closing:
Being salt and light means being present, listening, and learning from those around us. It means stepping out of our comfort zones and building relationships with people outside our usual circles. Being salt and light is not just something we do; it's who we are, and those are Jesus' words.
And here's the good news: one Sunday, without any prompt, Celia showed up to church with her daughter. She worshiped with us, and she and her family never left. She saw something in the people out in the community that enhanced her experience of life. We serve, and God will do the work—not to preserve the church, but to bring people together to bring the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Let's go out and rediscover our neighbors. Let's see and observe where God is already working and join in that work.
Thank you for being part of this journey. May God bless you as you go forth as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Amen.
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