Shine the Light

The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

February 8, 2026

Matthew 5:13-20

There are two big sporting events before us this weekend. First, there is the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina that began this past Friday evening with the Opening Ceremony and the parade of nations. It’s always such an uplifting thing to see all of these young men and women walking into the stadium with the flags of their nations, prepared to do their best in athletic competition. We will be watching as 21-year-old Ilia Malinin, ice skating phenomenon right here from northern Virginia, does his thing on the ice. And then there is Superbowl LX tonight as the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots. How many Seahawks fans do we have? And how many Patriots fans are here? How many of you really don’t care one way or the other? And how many of you are all about the commercials and the snacks? Did you know that tomorrow, the day after the Super Bowl, has the highest employee absentee rate of any day during the year? An estimated 22.6 million people are expected to call out tomorrow (is the day after super bowl the highest employee absentee - Search). The Olympics and the Super Bowl are both opportunities for athletes to let their light shine, not only for themselves but for their respective countries. I think about this as we consider Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel lesson: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:13, 14). Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel lesson remind us of our calling in Christ. We’re not all athletes competing in the Olympics or the Super Bowl, of course, but baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are called to season the earth with the flavor of God’s mercy and grace. We are called to shine with the light of Jesus into the world around us. Jesus’ words in that Gospel lesson serve as the basis for today’s message. May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

Today’s Gospel lesson continues where last Sunday’s Gospel lesson left off. It is a portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), and last Sunday we heard about the Beatitudes where Jesus calls “blessed” those whom the world considers not blessed; perhaps even cursed. But today Jesus tells how those who trust in him are salt and light for the world. The flavor and seasoning that the world needs is not ourselves, but Jesus. The light the world needs is not our own, but Jesus who is the Light of the world (John 8:12), who has called us out of darkness into his own marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Contrast this with what follows, where Jesus speaks of how he did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. The closing verse in the Gospel lesson is significant: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). It’s those words, “your righteousness,” that give us pause. When it comes to faith, do we really want to rely on our own righteousness? Relying on ourselves, how will we ever know if we’ve been good enough, or done enough, to be accounted righteous before God? That will lead either to utter despair or smug complacency. As Dr. Phil would say, “How’s that working for you?”

Trying to impress God with an outward show of piety while ignoring inward repentance gets us nowhere. This is what the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah in today’s Old Testament reading (Isaiah 58:3-9a). If our fasting is just for the sake of appearances and becomes an excuse to quarrel and fight, for selfishness and greed, what’s the point? God makes clear what the point is; what is pleasing to him: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn…” (Isaiah 58:6-8a). Isn’t this what Jesus means when he calls us to be salt and light for the world? It is as Paul the apostle writes in today’s Epistle lesson (1 Corinthians 2:1-13): “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). When all is said and done, it is Jesus Christ and him crucified that is at the core of who we are and what we do. Thinking about that question of Dr. Phil, “How’s that working for you?”, what works – what saves – is not our own manufactured self-righteousness, but the righteousness of Jesus, sealed with his own blood on the tree of the cross, given and shed for us and for our salvation. It is this blood-bought righteousness of Jesus that covers all our sins and becomes ours by grace alone through faith alone revealed through holy Scripture alone. Being salt and light for the world means that our words and actions point others not to ourselves, but to Christ. Shine the light! Shine the light of Christ!

At the close of the Baptismal liturgy, a candle is presented to the newly baptized with the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel lesson: “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Throughout our entire life’s journey, from the beginning to end, that is our Baptismal calling; to let the light of Christ shine in us and through us. We will always be tempted to hide that light because we’re afraid of what others will think, or because we want to fit in with the cool kids, or because we’re anxious, tired and discouraged. At such times, it’s good to remember the promise of the Lord: “The bruised reed he will not break; and the dimly burning wick he will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3). When we are that dimly burning wick, when our light seems about to go out and be engulfed by the darkness, the Lord is more than able to fan into flame his light and love in us. When life’s circumstances seem overwhelming, when we feel pressed in on every side with nowhere to turn, the Lord is more than able to make a way where there is no way. Shine the light! Shine the light of Christ!

After the Super Bowl is over, when all of the Olympic games have finished, after everyone has gone home again and life goes back to its usual routine, then what? It is in the ordinary, everyday aspects of daily life that God provides opportunities for us to shine the light of Christ. In our homes, in our schools and places of work, in our leisure and recreation, in our interactions with others, there are times when the light of Christ is needed. These are not accidental occurrences, but are there by divine appointment so that we can season that situation and individual with the salt and flavor of the kingdom of God; with the light and love of Jesus. If you take nothing else away from today’s sermon, take these final words with you and put them into action: Shine the light! Shine the light of Christ! Amen.