Matthew 5:13-20 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 5:13-20 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13"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. Verse 14"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. Verse 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Verse 16In 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.
Verse 17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Verse 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Verse 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Verse 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Devotion
Such a great start to this gospel reading! The “salty” part, then the final capstone of our baptismal liturgy, telling the baptized to “Let your light so shine!” So much potential power. And then near the end of this section from Matthew 5, a seemingly different story: the impossibility of perfectly keeping God’s legal standard and exceeding the righteousness of both scribes and Pharisees! Do we “let our light shine” or “take ourselves lightly”? I think the answer is “Yes”. It is unfathomable grace that our ancestors survived pestilence, persecution and predation. You have survived illness, the latest pandemic, trauma, accidents and more. I survived a combat zone. But we’ve already died and risen again in Christ. What an entrance. Lights, Christian, Action! To God be the glory.
Prayer
Eternal source, beginning and end, breath of life, bread of heaven, Light of the World. Wow! Praise, honor, and blessing unto you—and bless me as you will for the sake of your brilliant creation and my every neighbor. Amen.
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