We, as Christians, must continually ask ourselves, "Who are we?" We must ask ourselves this question and attempt to answer it sincerely, both individually and collectively, both in our individual lives and in our life as a faith community. It is necessary for us to constantly ask ourselves who we are, and how we act and react, as relates to our identity as Christians, followers and witnesses of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

That which identifies us as Christians is not only the fact that we worship Jesus Christ and have Him as our Savior. He himself said that this is not the most important thing when He cited the prophet Isaiah in Matthew 15:8 and in Mark 7:6. Rather, the most important thing is to do the will of God, putting God's teachings into practice, "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?" said Jesus in Luke 6:46.

Jesus called us the "Light of the World" and the "Salt of the Earth". (see Matt. 5:13-15) Well, now. The light is not light in and of itself, doesn't illuminate in and of itself. Neither does the salt season things by itself. But the light is lit in order to give light to everybody and everything. Jesus, though baptism gives us the light. There is light in us which ought to give light to "everyone in the house". But, because of our attitudes, we put our light under the table. We cover it up, we hide it, and we ourselves remain in the shadows. The faith we have in God is the salt which seasons and preserves. But "if the salt loses its saltiness...it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out." If our faith as Christians doesn't manifest itself in our attitudes, it is like salt which has become worthless and is discarded.

The word shalom is normally translated as "peace", but it means more than this. Right from the beginning the Bible is clear that all creation is one entity, declared good and intimately related to its creator. God's intention for the creation is this shalom, a word which signifies integrity, harmony and peace, and which characterizes the universe and all the creatures in it, both animate and inanimate. This peace and harmony, this peace with everyone and everything, is the original idea of the salvation of the First Testament, a salvation which was paid for and ransomed by Jesus Christ. It is not solely a peace between nations or between people. It is not a salvation solely for the future, for the "next life". But it is peace and harmony here and now, throughout the entire creation. The end result is not that humanity is the lord and master of the other creatures, the ones commanded to "subdue the earth" in Genesis, but it is men and women together giving glory to God, in harmony with everything and everyone.

In the Christian Testament Jesus Christ emerged as the prince of this shalom. To live the peace with all creatures, visible and invisible, rational and irrational, animate and inanimate, with yourself and with other people, with the Body of Christ (the church), is be a signal that the creation itself has been redeemed. There is no more need for expiatory sacrifices, for we are all invited to live as free people, sons and daughters of God!! And the Kingdom of God comes over the earth, manifesting itself through us when we are the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world"!! To be salt of the earth and light of the world is the basis of the entire Christian testimony. The ideal of Church is to be a transformation agent, both individually and collectively, of those who don't just adore God, but also do the will of God, putting into practice the teachings of Jesus Christ. The statements "Jesus Christ is Lord" and "God is love" express a universal and ecumenical truth. Universal, because it is for all people, in all times and places. Ecumenical because, even though it is a single truth, it is perceived by each person and culture in their own way. Even though every person and every culture may have a different perspective, all know they are called to witness the truth of the Gospel that saves, cures, includes and frees. But only those who open themselves to the grace of God will be included in this spiritual transformation. For the others, it will be merely one more missed opportunity...

To be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world" is something which ought to be manifest in all the actions of the daily life of each person of faith. This reality of being seasoning and light cannot be put aside for even one minute, no matter where we are or what we do. We must be and act as Christ was and acted. If there is something we are doing, saying or thinking which Jesus, in our place, would not do or say or think, it is not a truly Christian thing. It is a sinful thing, against the will of God. It should be avoided with all your might. If we, upon making an honest examination in good conscience, find something in our lives which doesn't match Jesus' actions, words and thoughts, we ought to bow down on our knees in prayer and ask for forgiveness, to plead with Jesus to come into our lives with His Holy Spirit and convert us. For there is something in us which is sinful and needs to be converted and transformed.

Jesus redefined the meaning of holiness. For Jesus, to be holy is not to avoid people, but to interact with them and participate in their lives, but not necessarily to be and act as they do. Rather, it is to be and act like a light which gives light to everyone in the house, like salt, which changes the taste of things. It is to be honest and act honestly, in the small and large things. It is to be tolerant. It is to be merciful and to act with mercy, patience, forgiveness. It is to have self-control, to live a healthy sexuality, respectful, recognizing that the other person is the temple of God's Holy Spirit, just like each one of us.

Jesus was radical and challenged authority. He walked and ate with the social outcasts and excluded. But He accused those with impure hearts, the false moralists, the egotistical, the evildoers, those who always had covetous eyes, those who always thought evil of others.

A community of faith, particularly a community like Metropolitan Community Church, needs to take care of itself. It needs to avoid everything that divides it and threatens it. The members of this church, who want it to be a healthy church, to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world", need to make their conversion daily. This so that Jesus Christ will be the goal and the center of life for each individual and for the community as a whole, as a community of faith. And so that the church will be a safe place of worshippers, a community of those who witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The members ought to be manifestations of holiness in the world. They should seek in Christ the pattern for life and ask themselves at every moment, "Would Jesus do this? Would Jesus say this? Would Jesus think this?" If we don't do this, we are trying to be a church as a personal ideal, an imitation church, no different than the ones from which we were excluded. As a consequence, without realizing it, we exclude those whom we don't like, or whom we don't want to be part of our circle of friends. Or, worse yet, we exclude them in full knowledge of what we are doing. And then we would not be realizing God's Work, the Work to which God called us and commissions us to accomplish. The Work which, in order to realize, God wants to use our arms and legs, our voices, our eyes and ears, our intellects and abilities, our gifts and talents.

May God, fount and source of true holiness, help us and convert us to the Divine love which is manifested to all the creation, and help us to be truly the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world". Here and now and in all places, wherever we might be.

Amen.