Back in the day, there were riots in Los Angeles brought on by many factors of justice. The rioting engendered looting and burning. One man looted from a record store. When asked what he had stolen, he said, “Gospel tapes! I love Jesus!”

If you wanted to love Jesus, you would not have done what you did.

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world.”

Salt is indispensable for human living. It changes whatever it touches. It enhances and draws out the flavor of food. In other words, your faith is to have a positive effect on those around you. Whatever you touch by your presence, words, actions, should change for the better. If your faith does not do this, then, it is useless.

As for light, we are so used to it, we can’t think of ourselves without it. Yet, so often, we can’t see the way God wants us to see because of the darkness of sin.

By saying that you are salt and light, Jesus is insisting that the world depends on you for its moral well-being, for its ethical good. If we are to move from war to peace, starvation to fullness, hating to loving, it all rests on your shoulders. Change what you touch. If you become flat, unwilling, don’t care, give up, then others suffer ... tossed out like flat salt, useless.

Five centuries before Christ, Isaiah spoke to his people who were morally, spiritually in chaos. Among many things he told them: do not turn your back on your own — a child having a hard time growing, a parent who needs patience, care and understanding, a spouse in mid-life crisis.

When you turn your back on your own your light is not visible. Remove from your midst: oppression, false accusation, malicious speech. God is not visible when you join in gossip; make racial or sexual comments; delight in others’ sins.

At Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, rangers take visitors on cave trails lit by electricity. At one point, the ranger gathers the crowd together and turns off the lights, plunging everyone into total darkness. You can’t see your hand in front of your face. As you stand silent, the only sound is breathing. Just the closeness of others gives you a sense of place.

Then the ranger strikes a match. Almost everyone says “ah,” in unison. They can see again. They are no longer in darkness. The ranger was also in the circle of light when he struck the match.

God promises us that when we take care of others, “Then light shall rise for you in the darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday.”

A lamp cannot give light without being bathed in light itself. When you give the kindness, compassion and forgiveness of Christ you are bathed in that light, too, and are able to receive from God what you give to others.

Do not give up on the ability of your faith to shape and deepen your life for the better. The purpose of doing what is good is not for your own glory but to lead others to God.