Homily on Matthew 5:13-20
Matt. 5:13-20
“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. 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. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For 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. Therefore, 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Dear Folks,
This reading from the Gospel of Matthew presents us with powerful metaphors and challenging calls to action. Jesus speaks of salt and light, of law and righteousness, and in doing so, reveals the profound responsibility and privilege of being his follower.
"You are the salt of the earth." Salt, in Jesus's time, was a precious commodity, used for preserving, seasoning, and purifying. It was essential for life. Jesus tells his disciples, and by extension, us, that we are to be that essential element in the world. We are to be the ones who bring flavor, preservation, and purification to a world often decaying and losing its taste for righteousness.
But Jesus also warns, "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." This is a sobering reminder. We can lose our effectiveness, our ability to make a difference. We can become bland, indistinguishable from the world around us. We can lose our saltiness through compromise, through apathy, through a lack of commitment to our faith.
"You are the light of the world." Light dispels darkness, reveals truth, and guides the way. Jesus calls us to be that light, to shine brightly in a world often shrouded in darkness. "A city built on a hill cannot be hid." Our lives, our actions, our words should be visible, a beacon of hope and truth.
"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." We are not to hide our faith, to keep it private or secret. We are to let our light shine, to share our faith with others, to be a source of inspiration and guidance.
"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." Our good works should not be done for our own glory, but for the glory of God. They should be a testament to His love and grace working through us.
Then, Jesus addresses the law: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill." Jesus did not come to discard the law, but to deepen its meaning and to reveal its true purpose. He came to fulfill the law through love, through grace, through his own sacrifice.
"For 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." The law is not something to be taken lightly. It is a reflection of God's will and His character.
"Therefore, 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." Obedience to God's commandments is essential for entering the kingdom of heaven.
"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." This is a stark warning. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was often external, focused on outward observance. Jesus calls us to a deeper righteousness, a righteousness of the heart, a righteousness that comes from a genuine love for God and our neighbor.
This Gospel reading is a call to authenticity, a call to live our faith with integrity and conviction. We are called to be salt and light, to bring flavor and truth to a world in need. We are called to uphold the law, not as a burden, but as a guide to a life of love and righteousness.
Let us examine our own lives. Are we living as salt and light? Are we letting our light shine before others? Are we striving for a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees?
May we, by God's grace, be faithful witnesses to His love and truth, bringing glory to His name. Amen.
O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Love,
+Br'er Abbot
