Published 9 Aug 2016
Salt and Light: A Responsive Reading
Through this responsive reading, Chandra Crane reminds us of our calling to be salt and light on earth.
By Chandra CraneA blog post Women Scholars and Professionals
Based on Matthew 5, Revelation 7, and a resource from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Washington, DC.
Leader: It was a dull, tasteless thing —People: this life, before salt.
Leader: It was a dark, meaningless thing —People: this life, before light.
Leader: Then he came — we thought — to do many things;People: to our surprise, he called us, saying: “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
Leader: So he has called us: To be salt in this earth;People: to season and preserve all life with love.
Leader: So he has called us: To be light in this world;People: to dispel the darkness of hate and injustice.
Leader: So he has called us, from every nation, culture, and language —People: all purified by Jesus to be salt of every kind.
Leader: Some of us are sea salt, some rock salt, some finely ground —People: all purified by Jesus, and all beloved as we are.
Leader: So he has called us, from every nation, culture, and language —People: all gifted by the Holy Spirit, to be light of every kind.
Leader: Some of us are daylight, some candlelight, some flickering fire —People: all gifted by the Holy Spirit, and all beloved as we are.
Leader: He is come — through us — to do many things;People: To our joy, he has called us, saying: “Let your light shine before others.”
Leader: It is a bright, joyful sunrise —People: his kingdom, coming with light.
Leader: It is a rich, welcoming banquet —People: his feast, seasoned with salt.
Leader: So he has called us, from every nation, culture, and language —People: all beloved of the Father, and in him we are alive.
Leader: So he has called us, from every nation, culture, and language;People: May the peoples see our good works, and give glory to God.
Chandra would like to thank Anthony & Felicia Forrest and Kennan Crane for their inspiration and help with this piece.
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Chandra Crane is a national resource specialist with Multiethnic Initiatives in the Discipleship & Leadership department, and a founding member of the Mixed Ministry Leadership Team. She is a multiethnic/multicultural/transracial adoptee: ethnically Thai and white with white and Black cultural roots. Growing up in the Southwest and now happily transplanted to the Deep South, she is passionate about diversity and family. She spent fifteen years on campus with Graduate & Faculty Ministries and enjoys reading, napping, and cheerfully defying stereotypes. Chandra is married to a delightfully nerdy civil engineer and mom to two spunky daughters.