Salt and Light

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ‘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. ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In 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. Matthew 5:11-16

Many of us have been hurt by the very institutions that should be safe and protect us. The church has often alienated and hurt those who are different, especially women and people of color. We say we are an inclusive church, but we fail to include folks that make us uncomfortable. We can pretend we are better than other, more conservative denominations, but we are not. We have persecuted prophets, isolated difference and shamed so many. Yet we are still called to be salt and light, despite how we have been treated. And the church is in need of constant reform and change to truly be salt and light. May we who have been hurt and persecuted share the love we have, so those who have been shunned can know people and places of love and welcome.

Loving Creator, source of life and light

we are showered with your great bounty

kept safe by your loving and tender arms

and fed with the salt of compassion.

We enjoy all too much being in clubs

shutting out difference of color and culture

pretending as if we are better than others

and being neither salt nor light for anyone.

Lord Jesus, humble us today to remember

the hurt that is human rejection and shunning

help us to gather those who are persecuted

and be their salt and light in these times. Amen.