We need a different kind of person to heal the world today.

L.J. shares a reflection on this Sunday's Gospel reading from St. Matthew.

The world has a great need for a different kind of person. The divisions between the various peoples of the earth are intensifying. Our own country appears split between conservative and liberal to an almost irrevocable degree. Partisan politics can get to the atrocious level of violence and annihilation of political enemies, which statistics tell us is a tendency of the ultra-right. Connected to this, intrinsically, gun violence appears to be growing exponentially. Even more, wars plague our globe. Poverty and crime are with us very much and are increasingly worse.

Typically, and historically, we solve our problems with force and the threat of violence. Or, we complain about problems and seethe with resentment. This, of course, builds outrage that can lash out in the form of violence. Or, we numb the pain resulting from our many societal and personal issues. Drugs, sex, entertainment, and sports all serve this goal. Perhaps one way, overall, that we deal with our problems is to dive deeper into work. But the problems persist. For, these coping mechanisms serve only to diminish consciousness rather than expand consciousness. This is key because, as Albert Einstein said, “No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that caused it.”

Richard Rohr says, “The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better. Oppositional energy only creates more of the same.”  This is a major point of today’s readings.  Jesus says anyone who follows him is “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.”  This comes right after he proclaims the Beatitudes, so this is a part of the Sermon on the Mount.  Anyone who lives the Beatitudes – being poor in spirit, mourning, being meek, being pure of heart, acting with mercy, seeking justice, making peace, remaining faithful amidst persecution – and the rest of the teachings in the Sermon on the Mount is the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  In other words, they are transformed people and transformed people critique the evil and injustice of the world by living in a new way that makes room for love and forgiveness over oppositional hate.

Today’s Gospel passage makes sense when we understand it in light of the theme of the Sermon on the Mount.  This sermon, Jesus’ main body of teachings in the Gospel of Matthew, is concerned with being radically God-centered (poverty of spirit, single-ness of heart, seeking the kingdom).  This leads to a new way of living, which Jesus calls righteousness.  The person who is radically God-centered has a transformed consciousness.  The heart, our interior, revolving around God and not ego, is what makes all the difference.  It leads to transformed living, which is to make choices and treat others with the love of God whose sun shines on the good and the bad, the left and the right.

The images of salt and light refer to this new existence in which we are freed from hateful idolatry and practice the faith-filled letting go Jesus teaches in the Sermon.  In the ancient world, salt was a starter for fires in earthen stoves.  It ignited dung because wood was so rare.  Jesus is saying that we are the explosion that is to set off a revolution.  This explosion needs to be seen.  Hence, Jesus also uses the image of light.  Jesus is saying our changed lives have to be seen by others.  In our good works, others will see the Divine.  People who are light draw others to the Light.  When we become who we are, we also become transparent to the One who makes us who we are.  ‘Glorifying the heavenly Father’ is the recognition of this truth.

The point of this Gospel, therefore, is that those who live in the blessed way Jesus describes, interiorly nothing and vulnerable and single minded, etc., can be a significant influence on others.  They can help lift the burden of affliction from humanity.  They can be agents of transformation.  In living a transformed life, one centered on the God of peace and mercy, they transmit peace and mercy to those around them.  Such people contribute to the salvation of the world, though it is all due to God’s gracious gift.  Jesus says, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”  We attract people to God when we are living in God’s presence (radical God-centered-ness) and doing what God wants (righteousness).  Only transformed people will truly transform the world, starting with themselves.