Transforming Darkness and Decay
- davidwperk
- Sep 19
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Friday, September 19, 2025
Proper 19, the week of the fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrase for reflection from today’s reading:
13 ‘You are the salt of the earth;
14‘You are the light of the world
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 984)
AM Psalm 69:1-23(24-30) 31-38; PM Psalm 73
2 Kings 1:2-17; 1 Cor. 3:16-23; Matt. 5:11-16
Today we celebrate the Feast of Theodore of Tarsus . (See below.)
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The community that lives in the spirit of Matthew 5:1-12, the Beatitudes, will be a community shining light and shaking salt into the world. Being aware of our absolute need for God (poor in spirit), grieving over the brokenness of the world and our own brokenness, hungering and thirsting for God's salvation, sharing God's peace (wholeness) with others, and responding to persecution and rejection with love--such a community would indeed be salt and light.
If we are salt and light, what does that say about the world itself? It implies that the world about us is in darkness and decay. In antiquity, without electrical power and streetlights, the nights were more profoundly dark than most urban moderns have experienced. And salt served as a preservative with refrigeration lacking or very limited by arresting the activity of bacteria.
Apart from a relationship with the God of love, people live in darkness, darkness about themselves, darkness about God, darkness about others. This goes beyond a mere intellectual opaqueness, although there is an inability to comprehend even the basics of God’s light and love. Rather, this darkness extends to experience as well, people have not had the light of God's love shining in their hearts, they have not known God in relational ways.
Living apart from that relationship with God has a corrosive effect on human nature and on society. Unbelief and living independently of God have their own negative impacts on the human psyche. Relationships suffer. Life gets turned in upon itself in self-absorbed ways. Energies get directed to self-serving ends. The creation and the powerless get exploited for human gain. Hence, the society suffers deprivation and decay.
The church stands as witness to another way. Whenever people are touched by the good news of God’s salvation in Christ and become part of the believing community, the darkness begins to lift. God's love begins to be felt in their experience, and they know God in personal terms. God’s light and love make more sense. Energies get redirected. Devotion to God and to others begins to replace self-directed and self-absorbed living. The corrosive effects of the old way yield to energies reaching out to give self to God, to love others, and to practice stewardship of the creation. Loving and serving community takes shape.
Jesus says we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.. Can anything be more exciting than knowing that we will make a difference in the life of this community, that someone in your circle of relationships or the next person you invite to worship with you might begin that journey of transformation and themselves become part of a salt and light endeavor? The possibilities—exciting and energizing.
Collect of the Day, Proper 19, the sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP 233)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury (died 19 Sep 690 CE).
Collect of Theodore of Tarsus
Almighty God, who gave your servant Theodore of Tarsus gifts of grace and wisdom to establish unity where there had been division and order where there had been chaos: Create in your church, by the operation of the Holy Spirit, such godly union and concord that it may proclaim, both by word and example, the Gospel of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Fridays Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen. (BCP, 123)
A Prayer for Light
Almighty God, we give you thanks for surrounding us, as daylight fades, with the brightness of the vesper light; and we implore you of your great mercy that, as you enfold us with the radiance of this light, so you would shine into our hearts the brightness of your Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Merciful God, creator of all the peoples of the earth and lover of souls: Have compassion on all who do not know you as you are revealed in your Son Jesus Christ; let your Gospel be preached with grace and power to those who have not heard it; turn the hearts of those who resist it; and bring home to your fold those who have gone astray; that there may be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 280)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 5:11-16
11‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 ‘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. 14‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In 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.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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