You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?  . . . You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your [God].  — Mt 5:13-16

These are beautiful words from Jesus. Sunday school teachers everywhere have used them to teach their little students that they are the light of Christ whose light should not be hidden. “This little light of mine . . .”

I think these words about light and salt are meant to be affirming. They confirm our goodness and call us to share that goodness with the world. However, what if you have trouble seeing yourself in these words? What if you don’t feel like the light of the world? I was that kid. Being a light sounded good, but it was hard to believe about myself. Also, even though I didn’t know what a lampstand was, I understood the invitation to stand out and shine, and I would have preferred to be a quiet, inconspicuous light.

Over time, and with some good mentoring and encouragement, I’ve been able to put myself out there. However, I’ve been reflecting on this passage and how challenging it can be to live into, despite its affirming tone. Shining may be easier for some people than for others, and the ease with which we shine may depend on the advantages life gives us, or doesn’t. Despite some challenges, I grew up with plenty of privilege. My family didn’t have a lot of money, but my parents were educated, and that carries a certain amount of privilege, even if it doesn’t always offer economic advantage. I was a little white girl, and although being female is not usually a privileged place in the world, I didn’t experience sexism until later in life, likely because my parents protected me from it as best they could.

If I had trouble shining my light, and maybe sharing my salty flavor too, what about people who don’t grow up with a lot of privilege? Even if parents surround their children with a bubble of love and protection, for people coming up in a world that undervalues them, how do they feel free enough to shine their light? I expect that parents who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (or who don’t but have children who do) surround their children with love and light, as do most parents. And so their children do light up the world. However, wouldn’t it be better if they didn’t have to negotiate racism, which hangs over people like a bushel basket trying to hide their light? Racism does people violence — all of us, really. How do we get rid of that bushel basket, once and for all?

And there’s just so much violence in the world. How do we shine a light of peace and healing on all the world’s brokenness? I can’t help but think that if people really knew their own light and could shine it freely, and if they knew their flavoring potential, they would treat other people better. If people were brought up to recognize their own light, would they feel the need to snuff it out in other people? For those who act out in violence because of illness, if they had access to the care they need, wouldn’t they instead shine on in peace and stability?

The other side of the same shiny coin is that if we could recognize the light and salt in each person, we couldn’t bear to cause them harm either. If police officers were trained to recognize the value of a person instead of seeing people, particularly Black people, as criminals, would they try a different tactic than shoot-first-ask-questions-later? I think they would. What if every parent’s child, and every parent too, was safe in this world because we could really see each other’s light? People could move through this world freely, without worry of discrimination, bigotry, and violence. And wouldn’t we all just shine brighter, without dimming, because we could?

Ultimately, it’s our own personal responsibility to intentionally notice the light in other people. And, truly, if we white people don’t recognize the beautiful light in communities of color, in people of color, then we have our eyes closed. It’s on us to open our eyes and see people’s light, value it, and thank God for it.

God’s call for us to be bright and salty is not just about our personal growth but about how we serve people. Isaiah describes what God’s call to serve looks like: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.” So, that kind of begs the question: who is “your own”? People who look like you and think like you, or the large, wide, beloved community of God? I believe it’s the latter, and when we don’t turn our backs on violence but instead work to resolve it as we extend care to each other, well, that’s how we shine; that’s how we stay salty.

The light that we each set on our lampstand is not perfect; in fact, our light tends to be fractured in places. But it’s ours, and God calls us to shine it anyway. Likewise, the flavor of our faith may not always be impeccable, but it’s in good taste. “You are the salt of the earth . . . you are the light of the world.” This is a collective “you,” so it’s not just about you (or me) but about the communal us, which includes everybody. In our own shining and sharing, can we also be open to the light in other people? God’s calling us to shine and to lift up each other’s light too. There’s plenty of room on the lampstand for all of us.

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For reflection:

• Have you ever found it hard to feel shiny and salty? What helped you to move through that feeling of lack, if you did?

• What are the ways I which you uplift others’ light and encourage them to share their flavor with the world?

• As you consider these readings, what’s God’s call for you? What resonates for you? What challenges you? Maybe just spend some time with God and listen for what God has to say to you.

By Sister Leslie Keener, CDP

Sister Leslie Keener, CDP is the director of God Space, a community-building spirituality ministry in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. She’s a Sister of Divine Providence with a Masters in Ministry and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Retreats from Creighton University. She directs retreats, meets with people for spiritual direction, and serves as the vocation director for her community. She also serves on the Coordinating Council of Spiritual Directors International. She enjoys music, meaningful conversations, dancing, and spicy food.