Isaiah 58:1-9a
Matthew 5:13-20
The readings appointed for today from Isaiah and the Gospel touch upon some similar things. And in both readings, what God says to the people is very clear and certainly relevant to us. But what God does not say is also very interesting and relevant to us as well.
The context for the reading from Isaiah is the exile. The people who know themselves as God’s people have been driven into exile in Babylon and the temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed. The people feel abandoned by God. In this reading they are trying to get God’s attention, rather like a toddler who is not getting enough attention from a parent. The toddler tugs at a shirt sleeve or pant leg, interrupts a conversation. Or the child who has discovered the one way that will always draw a parents’ attention—usually by acting up in some way. They are fasting. That is what they think is a fail-safe way to get God’s attention. Look, God, they say. Look at us. We are fasting.
Ultimately, as Isaiah tells it, God does respond, but he doesn’t say what they wanted to hear. God does not offer an apology for neglecting them. God doesn’t swoop them up in his arms to comfort and coddle them. God does not act to give them everything they want. That’s what God does not say and what God does not do.
What God does say is pretty clear. “Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day.” “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free… Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them?” Fight injustice. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Clothe the naked. God’s words are pretty clear.
I do squirm a little bit at this reading. Not at the forceful clarity of God’s directives to the people, but at the lines that follow. There appears to be an “if-then” causality set up. If you do these things, God says through Isaiah, “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn… Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer.” Like many Christians I am leery of works-righteousness, the supposition that we can earn God’s favor if we only do the right things. That is contrary to the overall message of the New Testament that God’s favor is given freely to us through God’s grace. (I would add, though, that if you are seeking an awareness of God’s presence with you, your chances are better if you’re doing God’s work.) It’s not that your actions will summon God’s presence, but that your awareness of God’s presence might be higher.)
Turning to Matthew. One thing Jesus says is, “Listen to the prophets” (like Isaiah). I have not come to abolish the prophets, but to fulfill their words. But more to my point today, Jesus says to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.”
Again, though, it’s very interesting to think about what Jesus does not say. As I often am, I’m indebted here to Lutheran preacher and teacher David Lose.
Notice, for instance, that Jesus doesn’t give the disciples instructions on how to become salt and light. Rather, he just plain tells them that that’s what they are. “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Goodness, he doesn’t even say that they’re “little lights” that they should let shine. Rather, he says they are the light of the world -- sheer promise and declaration.
You are the salt. You are the light. Period. Jesus does not offer them a survey that will help them asses their individual spiritual gifts so that they can determine which sort of light will be the most rewarding for them. He does not offer to help with time management so that they can make a place in their schedules to occasionally shine. He does not take them on a ministry empowerment retreat or a faith enrichment retreat. He does not reassure them their insecurities or uncertainties so that—no matter what—they feel good about themselves. You are the salt. You are the light. Period.
It’s also worth nothing that neither salt nor light exists for themselves. They only fulfill their purpose when they are used, poured out. Light is about justice. Salt is about sustenance.
Maybe you have heard people say, You don’t have to be a Christian to be a “good” person? To do good or act morally? That’s certainly true, but totally irrelevant to us. You don’t have to be a Christian to do good, but if you are a Christian, you have to do good. You don’t have a choice. You have to help others. We are the salt. We are the light. We fight injustice. We shelter the homeless. We clothe the naked. We feed the hungry. That’s what Christians do.
This is about more than being nice at work, although that, too, is part of our Christian vocation. This is about more than caring for an aging or ill family member, although that, too, is part of our Christian vocation. This is about being the salt and light in communities in which we live. To work for justice. To help the hungry and the homeless. Many of you do this work now. God bless you. Bless those of you who do. And the rest of us? God challenges us through these readings. If you are not feeding the hungry, Why not? If you are not clothing the naked now, What are you waiting for? If you are not sheltering the homeless, you have no excuse.
You are the light. You are the salt. Fight injustice. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Clothe the naked.
