5th Sunday after Epiphany - A (Matt 5:13-20)

In pondering this Sunday’s Gospel I can’t help but be reminded of the news surrounding the federal government’s recommendation this past week that American’s lower their salt intake. Salt, while necessary and good in the right amount, becomes dangerous when overused. We also know that even from a just a taste perspective, it is easy to ruin a dish by adding too much salt. It simply can’t be eaten.



Perhaps this is a good point for Christians who have been called to be salt to ponder. The gospel text seems to suggest that one of the evangelical tasks of believers is to “flavor” the world. The text isn’t explicit about what this means, but the larger context suggests that this flavor is provided by our behavior. I suggest that when the behavior focuses on the doer of the good deed rather than Christ, intrudes on the religious freedom of the hearer, or in the worst case scenario, brings violence and discord, then there has been too much salt.
Although extreme, the recent murder of David Kato in Uganda is a case in point. While I do not agree with my Christian brothers and sisters who denounce homosexuality as an abomination, their right to believe this is not in doubt. On the other hand, to allow this belief to be funneled into acts of intimidation, violence and murder is totally unacceptable.