I wrote this blog a while back but hadn’t posted it here.  I am listening to a sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, this week Pastor Travis focused on some of these themes.  Interestingly, the other day on Sunday, I randomly said to one of my son’s you are the salt of the earth, the other verses came through as well but this one speaks to me of him.  He is not a Christian but a young man with a strong moral character, a seeker, a wise soul that sometimes has trouble seeing the light within him.  However, and ironically so, he is an electrician by trade, bringing light to the world literally and figuratively with his kind, gentle soul and solid work ethic (like how someone else began his ministry).   Jesus was more concerned with us embodying His characteristics, being the salt, the light.  I am proud of my salty son… here is the original blog….

Since I have been studying the bible more it is so interesting how certain verses just bounce around my head and heart.  I feel God tugging at my heart… go tell the world about me.  I often ask that I be a vessel for him to work through, so far, the only things that comes through for me are writing and teaching yoga; ways to elaborate on his word through the lens of my understanding, a very yogic perspective that aims to embody the teachings of Christ and his followers.   So, the verse that has been sprinkling my mind and heart with more flavor is this “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” -Matthew 5: 13-14. I really felt this verse arise more from my heart than my mind. I love it when this happens, because then it truly feels like a truth that is for me but also a truth that is for all… hence I reflect and write… sharing pearls of wisdom that are not truly of this world. 

You are the salt of the earth.  Let us ponder how important salt was in biblical times for preserving food and also giving it flavor.  I suspect Jesus’s intent was to remind his followers that they were to preserve his word, to bring His message to a failing world.  The addition of flavor may hint at his people being unique and nuanced in their approach to bringing His word.  Isn’t this true today, how tasteless the world would be without unique expressions of spirit, truth and faith.  If we all were the same in our beliefs and our expressions of our beliefs, wouldn’t it be like eating the same meal over and over again without ‘tasting’ and exploring other doorways to faith, healing and holiness? 

The message translation, another flavor, says it like this: “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?   Truly, let this translation sink into your heart.  It speaks to me of embodying the characteristics of Jesus that help us with our walk with him.  We are reminded that his desire was for us to be like him, this is a practice just like mindfully preparing a meal that I return to again and again, especially when I am feeling distant from Him, ungrounded or dull. 

Another quality of salt for many generations is that it heals and sooths wounds.  The initial sting is painful and uncomfortable.  This can speak to our faith journey and our journey as humans!  Who hasn’t had their share of wounds, physical, emotional and even spiritual?  If we truly are the salt of earth, Jesus says we have the tools to heal our wounds, especially when we turn to Him and remember who we are in Him.  If we over identify with our wounds and under identify ourselves as His, are we denying our own innate way to heal and preserve our God given identity?

This naturally leads us to the rest of the verse; You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.   Again, Jesus truly wanted us to be like Him to bring His message, His light, His healing into the world.  If He tells us that we are the light of the world, who are we not to shine.  And because we have different flavors, textures and experiences, we all radiate and bring His message to the world in our unique way. 

When we do that work, the work to get right with God and ourselves we are just more luminous.  We don’t have to preach the gospel or even say Jesus’s name, the world can sense our level of clarity, brilliance and peace… our city is set on a hill and it cannot be hidden.  Later in the Bible, Paul encourages us to bring our saltiness into our interactions with other and not in the way some would use this expression!   Interestingly, another way that salt was used in Ancient Greek was wisdom and grace particularly with speech.  “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person”- Colossians 4:6. 

In closing we bring in one more verse, this time from Mark.  “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” – Mark 9:50. Or perhaps you may consider, sense the godliness in yourself, your unique light that can not be hidden and this will bring peace to the world.   You are the salt of the world and so is everyone else!  We only need to remember, sense it and taste it in ourselves and in each other, this will be heaven on earth.