Making the Grade

This Sunday's Gospel reading is from Matthew 5:13-20 and comes right after the Beatitudes,

"‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.' 

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.' 

‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.'

'Therefore, whoever annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"

Let's face it, our righteousness as measured by the Law, will never make the grade. While the Law itself will never go away, and we are commanded to keep and teach it, the fulfilled Law means that we are forgiven for our unrighteousness, and we are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. That is the only way saltiness can be restored to salt that has lost its taste.