by Angela Zimmann
“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.15 People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it 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.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
Jesus proclaims these words recorded in the Gospel of Matthew on the Mount of Beatitudes (which is less a mountain than a gently sloping hill facing the Sea of Galilee). The sea provided much of the livelihood for the community of Jesus: fish. But, in order for fish to be preserved, salt was needed. The people gathered around Jesus understood this real-life example – they lived it, daily. No salt, no fish, no life.
Likewise, from the Mount of Beatitudes, the people gathered around Jesus could see the lights of the ancient city of Safed, which still exists today, with a population of 26,000. Sit on the Mount of Beatitudes now, and time melts away, and just the same as two thousand years ago, the Sea of Galilee and the city of Safed remind us that Jesus took examples from real life to help us understand God’s relationship with us and calling to us.
We are called to be salt and light. These two callings go hand in hand. In this season of Epiphany, when we celebrate Jesus, the true light of the world, I invite you to join me in praying about how we, the Women of the ELCA, can continue to serve as God’s instruments in sharing God’s salt and light with the world. Salt and light are real, and measurable, and so very necessary for all of us, and for all of God’s children. Jesus repeatedly used concrete, real examples (just like the bread and wine!). These everyday examples reach across time and space, helping us remember and bear witness to the God whose grace and presence are in, with, and under every move we make.
Salt and light: still the same after thousands of years and still needed for life.
Today, let’s pause and shine a light on the SALT appeal! Through your salty gifts, we have met the match of $50,000, generously provided by Julia Hong Sabella (thank you, Julia!). These gifts matter and make a difference. These very real gifts allow us to continue to do the real work of mobilizing women to act boldly on their faith in Jesus Christ!
Angela Zimmann has been an ordained pastor serving in the ELCA since 1999, both domestically and as a missionary in the Holy Land. She is currently under call as the Vice President for Church Relations and International Partnerships at Mosaic.