Rise within us like the star
And make us restless
Till we journey on
To seek our peace in you
Song “In Christ alone” https://youtu.be/16KYvfIc2bE
Reflection on Matthew 5v13-20
Salt is essential for life but too much is dangerous and can kill us.
The amount of salt we have as flavouring is a delicate balance, like life.
Without salt our life is dull, too much and it will kill us. Its like anything in life,
Its that delicate mix that gives life its variety, its enjoyment. Salt is also purifying.
We are to be like salt, like yeast, not too much for people,
Just that delicate flavouring that keeps life tasty, wholesome and society. Its quite a challenge!
Salt is also a preservative, preserving for times of need, dark times, cold times, winter times.
So we are exhorted to "have salt" encouraging us to have wisdom, purity, graciousness, which promote peace and good relationships.
"Take care to maintain in ourselves that which is the saltness of life, namely the gospel, the word of God".
Salt is indeed a very useful flavouring, preserver, purifier.
If we lose our saltiness we become tasteless and without flavour.
Jesus is implying a profound connection between our outer behaviour and harmony internally and societally.
Jesus is expanding on the Jewish law to give it life.
Its not just a series of rituals and those who break the law and cause others to stumble have the harshest of judgements!
The passage follows on from the "new law" Jesus has given in the Sermon on the Mount. The salt and the light are results of keeping the Beatitudes.
Salt needs to be good salt, earthy salt, rock salt? The new law of Jesus leads us to good works that flow from that lifestyle helping us to be salt and light in the corner of the world that we are placed and producing as a result justice and righteousness hesed and sedek in the Hebrew. These are the fruits of our saltiness. Justice and righteousness in our lives our families our communities and our nation. We have much to do! Amen
Song "Beauty for Brokenness" https://youtu.be/OaMPE53uP38
When the star in the sky has gone
And the wise men have gone back to their homes
The real work of Christmas begins
To find the lost, heal the broken, feed the hungry and release the prisoner
