Let us reflect this morning on three things: on salt, song, and subversion; on salting the earth, singing resistance, and subverting religion. In other words, let us try to bring today’s Gospel reading alive: with a little bit of salt, a little bit of song, and, hopefully, a little bit of Jesus-like subversive love. Are we up for that?…
salting the earth
First off, what about salt? Why did Jesus talk about salt, do you think? Maybe we should start by asking ‘what is salt good for?’ Any suggestions? How many different uses do we have for salt?…
Salt has always been regarded as vital, whether for seasoning, protection, or cleansing. That is a major reason that soldiers were often paid in salt: for example, Roman soldiers in Jesus’ day. That is why we have the word salary, as they were being paid in ‘sal’, which means salt in Latin.
Sal, or salt, is also linked to our words for health like ‘salutary’, and it pops up again at the beginning of ‘salvation’, which is such a key word in Christian Faith. That is one very strong reason that we do well to think about salvation in terms of health and healing, rather than being obsessed, like some, with salvation in terms of sin: that is, thinking of salvation as salv-ing rather than just saving. Just as salt is variously used for seasoning, protection, and cleansing, so God’s love in salvation is always about seasoning, bringing greater taste to our lives, about preserving and protecting us, and cleansing, refreshing us, helping us to live and breathe freely.
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus speaks about salt and light together in today’s Gospel reading? Christians have majored on light as a symbol but actually, salt is very similar here. Indeed, just as John’s Gospel has Jesus speak about being ‘the light of the world’, in like manner, Matthew’s Gospel is telling us that Christ is ‘the salt of the earth’, and that those who live as Christ are also ‘the salt of the earth.’ Light and salt are therefore descriptions of what God’s mob looks like. Remember what Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel just before today’s passage? Jesus speaks about the blessed ones, like the poor in spirit, the humble and merciful, those who thirst for peace and justice. These, Jesus is now saying, are the ones who, in being who they are, are salt and light in and for the world.
In these kinds of ways, salt is what theologians call sacramental, which is one reason why we have put this saltbush plant on the communion table today. For, like the light of a candle, or bread and wine, or oil, salt is a vital symbol of faith and grace-filled living. A saltbush is perhaps also particularly appropriate for us in Australia. For the salt of its leaves were long ignored, and even despised, by white Australians. Yet for tens of thousands of years, the saltbush fed, and was treasured, by Aboriginal people. Now there is some greater recognition by others of its native gifts, including its reduced sodium content compared to other salts, much of which are still often manufactured in disastrous ways for the planet. For, of course, whilst salt is such a vital contributor to life, it can be destructive when sought, and/or used, in thoughtless ways.
subversive religion
This brings us to this morning’s second theme, of subversion. For, like salt, how is faith best to be understood, and used? In our Gospel reading, Jesus is contrasting what he calls ‘the righteousness of the Pharisees’ with a different kind of living faith which subverts, or turns upside down, destructive understandings and uses of religious faith. And we know only too well – don’t we?! – what they are like. Instead of faith which is like good salt - helping to season, preserve, and enrich the rest of everything – too much religion is like having way too much salt. Sadly, some religious people seem to think that salt is the only ingredient necessary. What terrible effects religious salination has had, destroying other elements of life. It is a bit like light, that other powerful metaphor in Jesus’ teaching today. Too much light is dangerous, especially when it tries to extinguish everything else it considers to be evil rather than simply darker and different. Too much religion is like a glaring floodlight or shining a torch in people’s eyes, rather than the kindlier lights of candles or oil lamps that Jesus would have in mind as symbols of life-giving faith. So what kind of salt and light therefore are we, and are we to be, in this Jesus community?
We need again to remember the preceding verses about the blessed ones – the humble, merciful, and justice seeking ones - and the next teachings to come in Matthew’s Gospel – such as those about ‘turning the other cheek’ and ‘walking an extra mile’ - which are about not only how to survive pain and injustice, but also how to turn the tables and subvert them and their power. For, rightly understood, Jesus is giving advice about how to share God’s creative nonviolent resistance to the denials of love. Not least, Jesus is encouraging us on how to make a difference in the face of tyranny and injustice, which was so powerful in Jesus’ own society, and which we see all too often in our our world. How, in the midst of oppression and darkness, are we to sustain life and hope? The answer, Jesus is saying, is in not blandly conforming, but staying salty: not just giving in to the darkness, but shining light.
singing light
This brings us, thirdly, to song. For singing is a vital way in which we can stay salty and shine light, not least the light of creative loving resistance to hurtful powers of blandness and darkness. And, not least, I am thinking of some of the songs, including African-American spirituals, which have given heart to many struggles, including Civil Rights movements. In terms of today’s Gospel reading, one which comes strongly to mind is that little song called This Little Light of Mine. Maybe some of us recall how it goes?...
Like many other similar Freedom Songs, one of the beauties of This Little Light of Mine is how it’s simple lyrics can be easily adapted to circumstances. Over the years, with others, it has therefore been taught as a ‘nonviolent weapon’ among civil rights activists and those very helpful to those struggling for true peace and justice. It is a way of remaining salty, speaking up to power, and sharing light.
Of course, singing, staying salty, sharing subversive love, doesn’t bring straightforward change, just like that. The powers of hurt and injustice are strong. However, they do make a difference. As Jesus-like resistance has shown down the centuries, it not only gives heart to those who struggle for a better world but often quite disconcerts those who are oppressing. These are lessons and weapons of love which, sadly, civil rights activists in the USA and elsewhere are having to learn again today. For, in the face of today’s challenges, Jesus teaching is still vital for ourselves and others, provided we see our salt and light as but one contribution to a better world, with others.
I wondered about giving everyone some salt today but decided on the saltbush – as a means of reminding of us of the sacredness of these lands we call Australia and the need to honour them, and their first peoples, properly. However, you also might like to take a pinch of salt today and taste it as an act of prayer to stay salty and keep sharing God’s subversive love. Whatever, together we might at least sing, our own version of This Little Light of Mine. Penny and I will sing the first lines of three verses and ask everyone to respond, perhaps as ‘we’ rather than simply ‘I’. For this occasion, we have chosen the following as first lines: ‘Standing up for justice’, ‘End the climate crisis’, and ‘All over this land’. Again however, you may like to sing other things later…
In the light of Christ, and the salt of the earth, stay blessed, stay loving. Amen.
by Josephine Inkpin, for Gosford Anglicans, Sunday 8 February 2026
First off, what about salt? Why did Jesus talk about salt, do you think? Maybe we should start by asking ‘what is salt good for?’ Any suggestions? How many different uses do we have for salt?…
Salt has always been regarded as vital, whether for seasoning, protection, or cleansing. That is a major reason that soldiers were often paid in salt: for example, Roman soldiers in Jesus’ day. That is why we have the word salary, as they were being paid in ‘sal’, which means salt in Latin.
Sal, or salt, is also linked to our words for health like ‘salutary’, and it pops up again at the beginning of ‘salvation’, which is such a key word in Christian Faith. That is one very strong reason that we do well to think about salvation in terms of health and healing, rather than being obsessed, like some, with salvation in terms of sin: that is, thinking of salvation as salv-ing rather than just saving. Just as salt is variously used for seasoning, protection, and cleansing, so God’s love in salvation is always about seasoning, bringing greater taste to our lives, about preserving and protecting us, and cleansing, refreshing us, helping us to live and breathe freely.
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus speaks about salt and light together in today’s Gospel reading? Christians have majored on light as a symbol but actually, salt is very similar here. Indeed, just as John’s Gospel has Jesus speak about being ‘the light of the world’, in like manner, Matthew’s Gospel is telling us that Christ is ‘the salt of the earth’, and that those who live as Christ are also ‘the salt of the earth.’ Light and salt are therefore descriptions of what God’s mob looks like. Remember what Jesus says in Matthew’s Gospel just before today’s passage? Jesus speaks about the blessed ones, like the poor in spirit, the humble and merciful, those who thirst for peace and justice. These, Jesus is now saying, are the ones who, in being who they are, are salt and light in and for the world.
In these kinds of ways, salt is what theologians call sacramental, which is one reason why we have put this saltbush plant on the communion table today. For, like the light of a candle, or bread and wine, or oil, salt is a vital symbol of faith and grace-filled living. A saltbush is perhaps also particularly appropriate for us in Australia. For the salt of its leaves were long ignored, and even despised, by white Australians. Yet for tens of thousands of years, the saltbush fed, and was treasured, by Aboriginal people. Now there is some greater recognition by others of its native gifts, including its reduced sodium content compared to other salts, much of which are still often manufactured in disastrous ways for the planet. For, of course, whilst salt is such a vital contributor to life, it can be destructive when sought, and/or used, in thoughtless ways.
subversive religion
This brings us to this morning’s second theme, of subversion. For, like salt, how is faith best to be understood, and used? In our Gospel reading, Jesus is contrasting what he calls ‘the righteousness of the Pharisees’ with a different kind of living faith which subverts, or turns upside down, destructive understandings and uses of religious faith. And we know only too well – don’t we?! – what they are like. Instead of faith which is like good salt - helping to season, preserve, and enrich the rest of everything – too much religion is like having way too much salt. Sadly, some religious people seem to think that salt is the only ingredient necessary. What terrible effects religious salination has had, destroying other elements of life. It is a bit like light, that other powerful metaphor in Jesus’ teaching today. Too much light is dangerous, especially when it tries to extinguish everything else it considers to be evil rather than simply darker and different. Too much religion is like a glaring floodlight or shining a torch in people’s eyes, rather than the kindlier lights of candles or oil lamps that Jesus would have in mind as symbols of life-giving faith. So what kind of salt and light therefore are we, and are we to be, in this Jesus community?
We need again to remember the preceding verses about the blessed ones – the humble, merciful, and justice seeking ones - and the next teachings to come in Matthew’s Gospel – such as those about ‘turning the other cheek’ and ‘walking an extra mile’ - which are about not only how to survive pain and injustice, but also how to turn the tables and subvert them and their power. For, rightly understood, Jesus is giving advice about how to share God’s creative nonviolent resistance to the denials of love. Not least, Jesus is encouraging us on how to make a difference in the face of tyranny and injustice, which was so powerful in Jesus’ own society, and which we see all too often in our our world. How, in the midst of oppression and darkness, are we to sustain life and hope? The answer, Jesus is saying, is in not blandly conforming, but staying salty: not just giving in to the darkness, but shining light.
singing light
This brings us, thirdly, to song. For singing is a vital way in which we can stay salty and shine light, not least the light of creative loving resistance to hurtful powers of blandness and darkness. And, not least, I am thinking of some of the songs, including African-American spirituals, which have given heart to many struggles, including Civil Rights movements. In terms of today’s Gospel reading, one which comes strongly to mind is that little song called This Little Light of Mine. Maybe some of us recall how it goes?...
Like many other similar Freedom Songs, one of the beauties of This Little Light of Mine is how it’s simple lyrics can be easily adapted to circumstances. Over the years, with others, it has therefore been taught as a ‘nonviolent weapon’ among civil rights activists and those very helpful to those struggling for true peace and justice. It is a way of remaining salty, speaking up to power, and sharing light.
Of course, singing, staying salty, sharing subversive love, doesn’t bring straightforward change, just like that. The powers of hurt and injustice are strong. However, they do make a difference. As Jesus-like resistance has shown down the centuries, it not only gives heart to those who struggle for a better world but often quite disconcerts those who are oppressing. These are lessons and weapons of love which, sadly, civil rights activists in the USA and elsewhere are having to learn again today. For, in the face of today’s challenges, Jesus teaching is still vital for ourselves and others, provided we see our salt and light as but one contribution to a better world, with others.
I wondered about giving everyone some salt today but decided on the saltbush – as a means of reminding of us of the sacredness of these lands we call Australia and the need to honour them, and their first peoples, properly. However, you also might like to take a pinch of salt today and taste it as an act of prayer to stay salty and keep sharing God’s subversive love. Whatever, together we might at least sing, our own version of This Little Light of Mine. Penny and I will sing the first lines of three verses and ask everyone to respond, perhaps as ‘we’ rather than simply ‘I’. For this occasion, we have chosen the following as first lines: ‘Standing up for justice’, ‘End the climate crisis’, and ‘All over this land’. Again however, you may like to sing other things later…
In the light of Christ, and the salt of the earth, stay blessed, stay loving. Amen.
by Josephine Inkpin, for Gosford Anglicans, Sunday 8 February 2026
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