Salt, Light, & The Law

Imagine meeting someone who just might think more highly of you than you think of yourself.  They describe you in glowing terms.  When you stop to think about it, they have changed the way you think about everything.  Your way of looking at the world and your place in it is now better just because of this person you have met.
Now you may think that you have to change everything and start life over from scratch.  Yet now, you learn that this person has not come to abolish the law and change everything you have ever learned.  You now know that this person has come to fulfill the law.  The rules are the same.  How we practice the rules have changed for the better.  This is what we learn about Jesus today.
In today’s gospel, Jesus is once again probably talking to His disciples.  First, he calls them the salt of the earth.  Think of the purpose of salt.  Salt helps to preserve.  Salt also adds flavor to and seasons any food it is added to.  This is what Jesus means when He calls us the salt of the earth.  We add to and enhance the situation wherever we are.  We make everything better than it was before we arrived.  We enhance because we follow the will of God and we lead with love.  This will make us stick out in a world where too many people renounce the will of God and who attempts to lead with fear and hate.
Jesus then tells us that we are the light of the world.  In a world that too easily sinks into darkness, we shine bright.  As children, we learn the song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.”  In being a follower of Jesus, we become children of the one true Light.  We will be noticed wherever we are.  Light will always be noticed.  We use light to decorate our homes.  We use light to call attention to things.  We should not afraid of the light.  What we do we do for the benefit of all and for the glory of God.  There is no shame in that.  We become a beacon to all who are weary of the darkness.
Those who operate in the darkness and in the shadows fear the light.  They are afraid to have their actions seen by everyone.  They do not want to do what it takes to operate in the light.  They will ultimately pay for their wrong decisions.
Jesus then shifts attentions from us to Himself.  He tells us that He has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it.  Jesus did not come to  establish a new religion with a whole new set of laws.  Jesus was born a Jew and died a Jew.  He came to change how we practice the law.  Following the will of God and loving our neighbor became the main focus.  We are told that the law and the words of the prophets will not pass away until heaven and earth pass away.   This must happen before the Day of Judgement comes.
All those who have made the decision to ignore the law and the will of God and teach others to do the same will be considered least in the kingdom of heaven.  If we decide not to follow God’s will, the best thing we can do is not take anyone with us.  Those who decide to follow the will of God and teach others to do the same will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.  Which side do we want to be on?  The choice is ours.  
Finally, we are told that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven.  We must remember that righteousness is our ability to follow the will of God.  We must not only follow the letter of the law, we must practice how to do it with love of God and neighbor being our priority.  This is why Jesus came to be with us.  To fulfill the law, Jesus showed us how to live in love for our fellow human being.  We must believe that love is the answer.  The type of life Jesus wants us to live begins and ends with love.
Brothers and sisters, It is easy to see who is the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Our actions will speak much louder than any words we will every say.  Do we listen to the readings?  Does the message of Jesus Christ really resonate in our hearts?  If not, we have time to make whatever changes are needed.  If we need examples, all we really need is to look around in our communities.  We will see who is has decided to follow Jesus.  They will be the ones who will do what they can to help.  They will be the ones who respond with love and do what they can to lift people up.  
Others who decide that theirs is the only way to be will be found tearing people down and sowing hate.  They act with fear and mistrust.  They must drag others down before someone drags them down.  It becomes an endless race to the bottom where nobody wins.  Thank God, Jesus shows us a better way.
The good news of today’s gospel is that Jesus calls us, His followers and believers, the salt of the earth, and the light of the world.  That is what the Son of God thinks of those who believe in his message and act accordingly.  Jesus did not come to us to tell us that we are all wrong.  Jesus came to tell us and show us a better way of practicing the existing law.  He did not come to throw out centuries of law and tradition.  Jesus came to show us how to practice the law with love.  That is the way Jesus  came to fulfill the law.  For that, we should be thankful.
St. James family, we live in a society where we spend far more time being critics than displaying real love and support.  Criticizing is easy.  Love is hard.  Working in communion with others is hard, particularly when they are different than you or have differing viewpoints.  It is hard to see children of God when all we can see are their faults.  Please remember that following the law is not as important as observing the law with all the love that God has shown to us and commands us to show each other.  Let us all pray to our God for patience and peace.  Maybe then we can practice righteousness and love the way God intended.  May God bless us all.  Amen.