Who We Really Are

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Gainesville FL
The Chapel of the Incarnation, Gainesville FL
February 6, 2011

Year A: The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm 112:1-10
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Matthew 5:13-20

Who We Really Are

Many of you know that once a month I lead the chapel service for the 60 or so children of the St. Michael’s Day School.

It’s a fun and challenging experience to engage these wonderful children and their teachers for about twenty minutes. Since it’s not my usual demographic, I struggle to come up with something that will be relevant and meaningful for their young lives.

A couple of weeks ago I thought I’d talk about the wonderful truth that God loves us, even though we’re not perfect.

So, I began by asking the kids if they knew what the word “perfect” meant. Lots of hands went up. Many of the children could use “perfect” in context such as “My house is perfect.”

That comment set off a chain reaction of children telling me about their houses. “My house is white.” “My house is white and blue.”

You know how it goes.

Finally, we pretty much nailed down what “perfect” means.

Then I asked, “How many of you are perfect?”

Without hesitation, every hand shot up.

Low self-esteem is obviously not much of a problem for this group!

I was reminded of that experience with those “perfect” children when I began to think about today’s gospel lesson.

We pick up in the Gospel of Matthew right where we left of last week. Matthew presents us with the teachings of Jesus, organized into what’s called the Sermon on the Mount.

Last week we heard the Beatitudes, Jesus’ vision of the downside-up kingdom of God. In God’s the kingdom the blessed are the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. In God’s kingdom the blessed are the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Jesus’ vision of God’s kingdom is powerful. It’s a vision of a kingdom that has already been established – these people are already blessed. But, it’s also a vision of a kingdom that has not yet been completed.

So, we – the disciples of Jesus - are invited to be part of the building of God’s kingdom here and now.

Now, Jesus switches gears. Instead of teaching about the kingdom that is already here and not yet here, Jesus addresses his disciples – addresses us – directly, using the present tense.

Jesus tells us something important, something truly awesome, about ourselves.

No, Jesus doesn’t tell us we’re perfect.

But, what Jesus does tell us is almost as amazing.

Jesus says to us, “You are the salt of the earth.”

In a world that all too often is flat and drab, Jesus tells us that we are the ones who can bring out the flavors of hope and joy.

In a world that all too often is obsessed with what doesn’t last, with what doesn’t satisfy, with what adds to our burdens rather than gives us hope and joy, we are the ones who can bring out the flavor of life as God intends it to be.

Then Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world.”

In a world that is all too often shadowed and gloomy with suffering and despair, Jesus tells us that we are the ones who are light and we can shine our light – the light of Christ - into the world’s darkness.

Now, before we get too full of ourselves and like the children raise our hands and claim perfection (after all, we’re the salt of the earth – and the light of the world!), Jesus gives a couple of warnings.

“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 hid. 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.”

Jesus tells us we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world.

This is who we are.

We will build God’s kingdom only by being who we really are.

Our challenge is to live like we are the salt of the earth; to live like we are the light of the world.

But it’s not so easy to be who we really are.

The forces of the world are very powerful. The temptations to be like everyone else – to just look out for number one, to pile up possessions, to look away from injustice, to bend or break the rules like everyone else, to despise the other - to be like everyone else – these are very great temptations. These are temptations that, sadly, you and I give into all the time.

Being like everyone else makes our salt lose its saltiness. Being like everyone else hides our light under a bushel basket.

So, the truth is, we need to practice at being the salt and light that we really are.

And that’s a big reason why we come here. Each time we gather here we practice living lives as the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In this building, as part of this community, we practice being different from the world.

We practice being the salt of the earth each time we gather here and find ourselves sitting with people we may not know and maybe don’t particularly like, and yet embracing them as beloved sisters and brothers in Christ.

We practice being the light of the world each time we gather here and in front of everyone display our weakness - admit that we’ve sinned, we’ve missed the mark, we’re not perfect – and ask God for forgiveness.

We practice being the salt of the earth each time we gather here and stretch out our hands to receive the Body and Blood of Christ – everyone receiving the same portion – everyone drinking from a common cup.

We practice being the light of the world each time when we prepare to leave this place and we remind ourselves of who we really are by thanking God for accepting us as living members of the Body of Christ.

And just before we go, we ask God’s help to be who we really are – to be the salt of the earth, to be the light of the world - to be the pure in heart, the peacemakers, to be those who hunger and thirst for righteousness - to be the builders of the kingdom of God.

(“And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in.”)

“Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart.”

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples – tells us - us who we really are.

We’re not perfect, but we are the salt of the earth. On an earth that is often flat and drab, we are the ones who can bring out the flavors of hope and joy.

We’re not perfect, but we are the light of the world.

In a world that is all too often shadowed and gloomy with suffering and despair, we are the ones who are light and can shine our light – the light of Christ - into darkness.

We’re not perfect, so we’ve come here to practice at being who we really are. Soon, though, this practice session will be over.

Then once again, we’ll have the chance to walk through those doors. Then once again, we’ll have the chance to go out into the world and, with God’s help, be who we really are – the salt of the earth and the light of the world, the builders of the kingdom of God.

Thanks be to God!

Amen.