The 5th Sunday after Epiphany

This week, we continue hearing from Jesus' first major episode of teaching in the gospel of Matthew, a speech known as the "Sermon on the Mount" in which Jesus sets out something like a "Discipleship 101" for those who would follow him. Having pronounced blessing upon all sorts of people who in his time (and in ours) would be hard to consider "blessed" (that section we call the "Beatitudes"), Jesus continues onward by telling his listeners that they are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". As it turns out, what his followers have to offer is a necessary ingredient in what God is up to in the world, and others are watching what the followers of Jesus say and do in the world. Our path bears witness, whether we like it or not.