Kerra's Last 5 Sermons - Salty and Lit

Salty and Lit
February 5, 2023
Matthew 5:13-20
Kerra Becker English

Today you have a picture of me on the front cover of your bulletin. It is the picture that my mother chose to put in for my Senior year ad in my high school yearbook. Why she used that little kid picture of me in a coat and hat is beyond me, that is, unless it was to mirror the senior picture I had taken that same year in my fluorescent pink ski jacket. It was the late 80’s after all when ski movies were all the rage.
Next to the picture, cheesy as it sounds, she added the code for an accompanying Bible verse, which was part of the reading for today – The first line of the ad said, Matthew 5:14-16. It’s the part that reads: “You are the light of the world…and… Let your light shine before others.” Next to the biblical code, she simply wrote, “Keep on shining, love Mom, Dad, and Laurie.” Perhaps it’s good that treasures like that end up in boxes in the attic – far, far away from any light of day.
What she didn’t include, but could have, was to add verse 13 as well. She could have just as easily said, “Stay salty.” I do love that Moms of high school seniors can come to see the glorious light in their children, when what I was REALLY like at the time was probably more on the salty side, with an strong aptitude for eye rolling. I was exceptionally talented at backtalk. Call it a gift! I argued any time I wanted to get my way, which meant I argued about everything. My vocabulary was colorful and, truth be told, occasionally mean-spirited – though I held back a bit more than what I hear as a mother today. Different era of acceptability and all.
Perhaps she was hoping for one without the other. More about the light, less about the salt.
Oddly though, whenever this verse comes up for worship or for study, I always have a mind’s eye glimpse of that Yearbook ad. Even as locked away as it was deep, deep in the attic, I managed to find it so I could show it to you. It made me laugh to read again her own midrash on the text.  Keep on shining. Now that part, I kind of forgot. It reminds me that even in her more serious moments she always tried to turn toward the slightly silly. It fits.
The other bit I’ll share this morning is to tell you that long ago biblical affirmation when I was stretching toward adulthood functioned as a blessing, as a premonition and a confirmation of who I was to become in this world, and in today’s language, it conveys attitude, and a particular kind of Christian persona. Matthew 5:13-16. Yeah, you know me, I’m salty and lit.
The salty part continues to allow me to have an edge of irreverence about my faith. I don’t want it to be too pristine or God-forbid, flavorless. As one of the ministry forms that I read during my interview days put it. That particular job wanted to call a leader with a “hermeneutic of suspicion for the status quo.” To question. To be a skeptic. To be suspicious when things are tied up too neatly and wrapped with a bow. That’s one way to embody being the salt of the earth. That salty edge has served me well on occasion, and as I’ve grown and matured, my ability to “season appropriately” and not either too timidly or too aggressively has taken a much better form.
Now “lit,” since I’m about to unpack for you, will never be cool again because I’m a grown up, and I’m saying it from a pulpit no less. Ryleigh warned me yesterday that it was already something no one says anymore.  But “lit” has two different connotations in current slang for those uncool enough to still be saying it. Yes, it can mean drunk or intoxicated. I am aware. And doing some searching, I learned that it’s been used with that meaning since the 1910’s, for over a hundred years. It isn’t new. However, in recent use it has come to mean exciting, or excellent. It means really good. So good that it is lit up.
Salty and lit. Yes, I hope to carry both as an attitude and way of life, a way of life Jesus is preaching about. So how does Jesus use this in his sermon? Is it still relevant for us now?
Oh yes, I believe it is. And I’m going to tell you something now that would make for a stupid argument on the news. The most important realization to identify about these verses on salt and light can be found in the pronouns. That’s right, the pronouns matter. They especially matter because you don’t see in English what is easy to identify in the Greek.
When Jesus is saying here is that - YOU are the salt of the earth. YOU are the light of the world. Those are second person PLURAL pronouns. It means, in southern, Y’all. He’s talking to the disciples, to the crowds, and by virtue of the sermon being handed down thanks to Matthew, he’s talking to all of us. You, all of you, are salt, are light. Now John’s gospel uses a different pronoun and has Jesus say multiple times, “I am the light of the world.” Which is also true. But I LOVE that Jesus is calling us out here. We are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world.
Therefore, it isn’t just that I got a “keep on shining” message from my Mom, Dad, and sister and other’s didn’t. We who follow where Christ is leading us are meant to be as essential as salt, as wondrous as light.  
Jesus is helping us build our sense of righteousness, not by being better than everyone else, but by following the commandments as God gives them to us and encouraging others to do the same. He invites us into an attitude where we are contributors, where we are making the difference in this old world because we care about it and its people. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about doing good. There’s a difference in those approaches. The Scribes and Pharisees that rub him the wrong way are about their own perfection in the truth, rather than being about the guidance and care of others. We all know those who claim the faith, but lead others astray even as they self-promote their own righteousness. To that, Jesus says, “Cut it out. It certainly won’t make you great in heaven.”
Jesus’ sermon is just the best. This part was one of my Mom’s favorite texts, and it’s one of mine too. I am delighted that it’s less about the rules and more about the attitude you carry with you in the world.
You, Jesus says, ALL OF YOU are meant to salt this earth with your bravery and your kindness. You, ALL OF YOU, are meant to shine your light in this world – especially when it feels like too many candles are being snuffed out. Be the light, not only for yourself, but as an example to others.
The ritual of lighting the candles the way that we do in worship comes specifically from this text. The light comes from the back of the sanctuary as a reminder that our doors are open to the world, and after worship we carry the light back out with us to let us know that though we tend our light in this place, it isn’t so that it stays here, it’s so that we will be able to carry it with us, wherever we go.
As my Mom would tell you too if she could – Keep on shining. As I, as a Mom and as your pastor, would also remind you – Stay salty.
Jesus is counting on us to listen to his voice and to grow in love for God and for each other. Amen.