Allow me to return to Friday's quote by Alison - I think it is full of images old and new.
This is the understanding behind the Matthean Sermon on the Mount. All those who are called makarioi (blessed) are those who have been "scandalized" by the order of this world and live in a relation of dangerous proximity to being victimized by the order. Because they have been scandalized by the order of this world, precisely because of the precariousness of their belonging, they will not be scandalized by Jesus himself, and thus are able to identify with the "blessed one" of Matthew 11:6 who is not scandalized by Jesus. These will be able to form part of the new victim people whom the new Moses is projecting from the mount in fulfillment of the old, a victim people salted for sacrifice (5:13) that will be the new Zion, the city on the hill (5:14), which alone will accomplish the law and the prophets (5:17).
Friday I said I was hung up on the image of 'the city on the hill' - especially as it is used in U.S. politics. Today, I want to move to the image of salt. Whenever I place salt on the lips of a newly baptized person, it is for me a powerful moment - one that can easily bring tears to my eyes. I know again why that is. We are - in the waters of baptism - "a victim people salted for sacrifice." We are the seasoning that is sprinkled on the world so that life may become a taste of the Reign of God. We are the spice. We are not to make ourselves into that seasoning - we are that. That is us. That is me and you. That comes to us as gift - as holy mess - as delightful good news. So, we can be that. God hands that to us and says, 'Yes, be that seasoning'. The blessed are a part of the character that God calls God's own. A character like this is one that embraces life beyond the limited embrace of the world that only knows how to see after itself and care for itself. This is the character of scandal - one that welcomes - beyond belief!
Connection: To salt something is a bold step. It is a much needed step but it takes some boldness. It means speaking up - stepping up - breaking in - listening again - acting in a ways that may be contrary to what is or may simply press for more seasoning. It is as we enter into the mold of self-sacrifice (or self-donation) that we begin to turn heads as others get a taste and then come out to see this new way.
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