“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 NIV)

At first glance, this simple verse seems to be calling us to be and do the impossible. As a result, we are left feeling confused and discouraged. Does Jesus really mean what we think he is saying here?

In modern English, the word “perfect” means “a status of the highest excellence” or “a product that is completely free from faults or defects”. Unfortunately, however, most Christians today have combine these two definitions of the word “perfect”, and we impose a modern understanding to this verse: “Do not sin”. In reality, Jesus (and Matthew) had a different understanding and intention for the word “‘perfect”. The Greek word in Matthew 5:48 is teleioi, which is translated to mean “complete”, “mature”, “fulfilled”, or “finished”.

The verse is not a command about achievements: having the perfect body or perfect teeth, gaining the perfect score in an exam or competition, or possessing a life free of sin. Those “perfections”, good as they are, are not the full picture. Rather, the verse is a reminder of who we really are and what we were made to be. In other words, we are to be made in full and complete likeness of Christ.

Christian growth is about reshaping all relationships and responsibilities to express the faithfulness and love of God that was made complete in the life and death of Jesus. In spite of this, our anger, insecurities, and complacency keep us from the interactions and services that help us to be made fully Christ-like.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5 NIV)

• What are some ways for you to be more like Christ? Where are the places where you think you can be Christ-like?
• As Christians, we say that God is complete because he is the Trinity. That is, the triune God is whole because it is a community of the Father, Son, and Spirit among each other. How can we, the community of faith, help each other to grow into more like Christ?

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

As part of the Sermon on the Mount, this simple passage can be easily misread. Because we are prone to think of the Sermon on the Mount primarily in terms of law and command, it is very easy to hear Jesus in this passage telling us that we must be salt and light. Or we think Jesus is saying how we ought to be and why we should be salt and light. However, that’s not what’s going on here at all. What Jesus is saying is sheer declaration and promise: You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.

Why salt and light? What does it mean to be salt and light?

The importance of salt, especially in the ancient world was significant. In the first century, salt had many functions: preservative, flavor, medicine, and money. Therefore, Jesus knew the value of salt comes in its application on other things. In other words, Christians are called to exist for others.

The word “light” means “to illuminate” or “to make visible”. Jesus understood the functionality of light allowed people to see, which would otherwise not have been perceptible in the dark. That is to say, light allows people to recognize the causes of our actions and deeds.

However, we don’t always live up to Jesus’ pronouncement. We fall short and wonder how this truth and promise could possibly be true. The good news is we don’t have to work to achieve the label of “salt and light”. We already are.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV)

• Why is it important to know who we are? How does this inform us about how we live our lives?
• What do you think Jesus meant about salt losing its flavor? How is it possible to become ‘unsalty’?
• How can you be salt and light to the people around you?

John 1:14 NIV

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Epiphany, in some ways, is an “expansion” of Christmas. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, and in Epiphany we commemorate Jesus, God made flesh, being recognized by the world.  Basically, at Christmas God appears as man, and at Epiphany man appears before the world as God.

Epiphany is a season of unveiling and making known.  The word “epiphany” means “to show”, “to reveal”, “to make manifest”, or “to make known”. Therefore, we look at the many stories God has made himself known through Jesus: We follow the Magi guided by a star to worship Jesus. We hear the testimony  of the Father at Jesus’ baptism. We watch Jesus perform various signs and wonders: turn water into wine, heal the sick, and raise the dead. We walk up the mountain with Peter, James, and John, and witness the Transfiguration of Jesus.

Why doesn’t God reveal himself MORE to mankind? Does God even reveal himself to us today? As Christian, regardless of what we see or hear from today’s media, we believe that God indeed continues to reveal himself to us today. He does so through Scripture, the Word being preached, worship, Eucharist, and in community. More importantly, we believe God continues to make himself known through us. His people and his church. As the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, once wrote: “The church is the physical manifestation of Christ on earth.”

However, our fears, pride, and busy lives keep us from making God’s grace and love known to ourselves and to others.

Let us be reminded that the season of Epiphany begins with this challenge: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

• What are some ways we can make space for God to be known to us? To others?
• What keeps you from making God’s grace and love known to people around you? Family, friends, coworkers, or your church community.
• What are ways you can (as an individual) make God known to others? How as a community can we make God known to others?