5th Sunday After The Epiphany – Feb.08, 2026

The Lectionary readings for this Sunday are Isaiah 58:1-9(a), Psalm 112:1-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-12, Matthew 5:13-20

“You are Salt…. You are Light”

“You are salt for the earth O people, salt for the kingdom of God; share the flavour of life, O people, life in the kingdom of God.”(1)  These are lines from the hymn, ‘You are Salt for the Earth’ based on the reading from St. Matthew’s gospel (5:13-20). 

Jesus often when teaching would use common everyday elements familiar to those listening to him, in order that they would grasp meaning from it for their lives.  Using the element of Salt and Light as a descriptive for who the disciples were and how they were to be in the world, Jesus was wanting the disciples to understand their value, and the effectiveness they were to have for the kingdom of God in the world.

‘You are Salt for the Earth’, salt as we know is a flavour enhancer, add salt to food it changes the taste.  And so the disciples to were to be change makers in the world, changing things for the good.  Salt is also used for preservation purposes, years ago without a refrigerator to freeze and store meats and fish, salt was used as a preservative.  When a catch of fish was brought ashore, split and cleaned, it was layered with salt, spread out on the fish flake in the sun and the wind for it to dry.  The salted fish would be dried and stiffened almost as board. This preservation method kept the fish from spoiling, and it lasted for some time, providing food for the family, or to be shipped to market.  Salt as we know was also used for medicinal purposes;  a cut would be cleaned with salted water to guard against infection.  The disciples listening to Jesus would have readily understood their purpose in the world as Christ, they too were to be effective in the work of preservation, helping, providing for, and guiding others in the way of Christ.  

Jesus however says to them, “If Salt has lost its taste, how can it’s saltiness be restored, it is no good for anything only to be thrown out, and trampled underfoot.”  And while some might argue that salt can’t lose its saltiness, and may have the data to show for that; we know however when we blend other flavours in with the salt, or add more water to the pot as such, salt can be diminished or become diluted, and so Jesus concern here was for the disciples own spiritual life, as to how they were to stay firm in their faith; One can’t give to others what they don’t have themselves, or be for others what they are not.  It is staying close to Jesus, being dependent on him, that they would serve the purpose for which they were called into the world.

“You are light of the Earth’.  Jesus takes the symbolism of light for himself, and the disciples as light were to be as Christ himself was in the world, transforming the environments around them, for all to know God’s peace, his love and justice in their lives. “A city built on a hillside cannot be hidden; no one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on a lamp stand for all in the house to see.”  As light the disciples weren’t to be separate from the world but immersed in it.  As many are doing today, standing up for justice, standing alongside, the weak and the vulnerable, the suffering, in the midst of the darkness of our own Day.  

‘Salt and Light’ as symbols of identity for the disciples, are also identity descriptive’s for ourselves as Christians, Christ’s followers, his people in the world today.  And it is in giving witnessing to that in the way we live with others, the actions we take, that we too will know God’s kingdom coming in our own time.  

“Do not think I have come to abolish the law and the prophets, not to abolish but to fulfill it.”  Jesus of course was speaking here to the commandments of God, perhaps some were being challenged by his teaching, thinking he was dismissing the laws of Moses.  Jesus however made it clear that he had not come to abolish the law but to uphold it; While the Pharisees were intent on keeping the law, and following it religiously, they ere revered for their outward show of piety, when it came to living it out, however they didn’t do so well. Jesus however was insisting that it not only be about the practice of the law, but also about faithful living, living it out in the world, in the way of love and service toward others, giving glory to God, in all we are and all we do. 

May we always be faithful to his word, …living in a way that is pleasing in thy sight, O Lord. 

“You are light for the world O People, light for the city of God. Shine so holy and bright, O people; shine for the kingdom of God.” (1). 

Amen, God Bless. 

1. ‘You Are Salt For the Earth”, text Marty Hauger (1950). ©1986 G.I.A. Publications, Inc,

      #502 Common Praise, published 2000, Anglican Book Center, Toronto, Ontario. ©2000 by the 

       General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada.