The Community of Taizé sing Christe Lux Mundi: ‘O Christ, light of the world, whoever follows you will have the light of life.’

Christe, lux mundi,

qui sequitur te,

habebit lumen vitae,

lumen vitae

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 5:13-16

‘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 hidden. 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.

Jokes don’t translate well across the millennia, but you might imagine Jesus raising a smile or two at his examples of gone-off salt and how not to use a lamp...

Take a moment to reflect on these images of salt and light...

The right amount of salt on food brings out the best of it. How are you bringing flavour to your world? What’s the invitation here?

A warm light brings people together and allows fellowship to happen: cooking (with a dose of salt of course), eating together (salt on the side), laughter, party games, friendship, intimacy… Where do you bring warmth and light to others?

Where you bring flavour and light, carry on! Are there ways you can do even more of that? Maybe there are, or perhaps it’s simply continuing to do what you do – a little salt and a little well-placed light make a big difference…

Listen again and let Jesus speak directly to you

Matthew 5:13-16

‘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 hidden. 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.

Eugene Peterson in the Message translates it like this: “You’re here to be the light, bringing out the God-colours in the world.” I wonder: what particular God-colour are you?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen