Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)  Psalm 112:1-9 (10)  1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16)  Matthew 5:13-20

Devotional Resource

And we are salt and we are light- salt of the earth and light of the world.

Salt speaks of purity and wisdom, light of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When purity and wisdom have lost their taste, they are of no worth, wisdom and purity are rejected, cast out and trampled underfoot- worthless!

It is easy to appear wise. It is easy to be religious and follow rules; to seem pure; to enculture righteousness. But does this season the earth?

When Christ shines in us, people see good works- the salt of the law, the salt of the letter, the prophets; this salt is good works and the letter of scripture and the prophets  does not change anything- only Christ’s Light working through us can fulfil and accomplish the word’s meaning and intent- deepen our understanding so that we act righteous.

It’s a mystery; the mystery of the cross that brings us into the kingdom. Even the one who breaks the command becomes the least- even the one who teaches poorly is in the kingdom, such is the power of the cross- the good news of Christ crucified.

Lord fill us with your light and inspire us to be those called to be great in the kingdom; who do and teach the word, knowing, in its fullness, the forgiveness of the Father  so that we might exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees who indeed were wise and pure in word and action.

And what is this light that is to shine in us and bring us to the knowledge of the Father, the knowledge of the Holy, that God our Father is glorified?

God is our Father, so we are light, bearing the light of God the Son. Through the Son, others are lead to see the Father. Jesus reveals God to be our Father.

Isaiah warns us, to want God to be on our side, to set others as the least, is our downfall. To fast, to humble ourselves even, does not open our eyes. It is what we do that reveals faith.

Do you participate in oppression, do you quarrel and fight and strike with a wicked fist? Is that what your religion leads you to do? Is violence how you strive to catch God’s ear- make your voice heard on high. White washed  words of death?

Lose the bonds of injustice!

Undo the straps of the worker’s yoke! Let the oppressed go free!

Share your bread with the hungry and the poor and hear oh Church, with your many buildings and investments, bring the homeless poor into your house, clothe the naked and feed the hungry. Those who would teach, look after your family.

Then the light will break forth, the light that shouldn’t be hidden under a bushel basket.

Here I am! is the cry of our hearts.

Fed and strengthened in the Lord- a foundation for many generations, repairers of breaches, rifts, and restorers of communities torn apart by hate is our identity.

And this is the wealth the Psalmist tells us is, light for the upright, as we shine-out grace, mercy and at-one-ness with the rule of God. All fear is faced down, secure in the Lord. Our hearts are steady.

That the poor have received food is the root of our power. God himself, the Father is glorified. The desire of the wicked comes to nothing; those who would have victory through violence are nothing.

We, with Paul stand, not with persuasive words of wisdom but with demonstrations of the power of the Spirit, so that our faith might not rest on human wisdom, our latest hero preacher high and lifted up, but on the power of the Cross, the throne of God.

This is God’s wisdom- set out in the scripture that cannot be changed but not understood by principalities and powers set to nothing by the cross. The religious took these words and used them to crucify Jesus, the Lord of glory.

This cuts  to the quick; the Law and the Prophets, the cannon of scripture killed Jesus. We must know the Law and the Prophets as words wrought in heaven- foolishness and incredible to the wise.

We have the mind of Christ!

So let your light shine before others; let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.

Grace and peace.