Sunday 05 February 2023

Psalm 112

Background

Today’s reading continues Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He begins with two images that all his followers should represent. The first, salt, speaks of preventing things going bad, but also of bringing flavour to the world. The second, light, speaks of giving hope and guidance. It is important to note that Jesus didn’t say that his followers are the light of the Church, but of the world. The faith of the followers of Jesus should be visible beyond the walls of the Church.  

The second part of the reading focuses on Jesus’ relationship with his Jewish faith. There is a tension throughout Jesus’ life and ministry between bringing a radical new dimension, and fulfilling all that has gone before (v. 17). The rest of the Sermon on the Mount focuses on just this matter. 

It is unclear what Jesus meant when he used the phrase ‘the law’. There are the 10 Commandments; the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Torah; and there are all the laws that developed beyond the Torah. In Jewish practice both the written law in Scripture and the oral law that developed through centuries of reflection and study are seen as eternal. Despite all these laws, as with Christianity, there are many different opinions on matters, and we shouldn’t assume all Jews are legalistic.  

Finally, Jesus references the Pharisees (v. 20). They are often painted as the villains in our Scripture. They were a lay movement that rose to encourage all Jewish people to be renewed in spirit. They were fervent in seeking the will of God and attempting to follow that wholeheartedly. Jesus’ challenge isn’t that his followers should abandon these practices, and certainly not to assume that there is no responsibility to consider how to live well, but rather to go beyond even the Pharisees in seeking to live wholeheartedly for God.  

Coming so soon after Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) as this does, it is important never to forget Jesus’ statement that he did not come to abolish all that has gone before. It's a lesson that Christians through history have not always remembered. 

To Ponder:  

• Both parts of this reading focus on putting faith into action. What examples of people living as salt and light do you remember? How have they inspired you? 
• In what ways have you sought to learn about the Jewish faith? How has that shaped your faith in Jesus? 
• What does it mean to you to emulate the Pharisees in living wholeheartedly for God? 

Prayer

Jesus, our ultimate example of a life of salt and light, may we follow your path to bring hope and flavour to our community and our world. Amen.