Salt & Light: An Arrival Exercise
This exercise was first used at our 2026 Grace Hill Elder Offsite — but it works just as well as a personal practice. It’s called an “arrival” exercise because sometimes we need to decompress, step outside of the noise of ordinary life, and arrive, fully present to what God might want to say to us here and now. So, set aside thirty minutes or so. Clear what you can from your desk and your mind. Walk through the prayers and prompts in order. Sit with the Scripture. Let it do its work.
— Pastor Tyler
Opening Prayer
from The Book of Common Prayer
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Arrival Exercise
Take some time to settle yourself. Invite the Holy Spirit to help you quiet your mind. Think back on the past two months and review your journal if you have one.
- What people, projects, and events have occupied my time?
- What emotions colored my experiences?
- When did you sense that Jesus was present to you?
- When did He seem distant, or you seem distant from Him?
- Note any life lessons or themes that have surfaced for you in this time.
- Take some time to offer these reflections to God in prayer.
Later in this exercise, we will study Matthew 5:13–20. Before we get there, meditate on how Jesus begins His sermon. What does this list bring up for you? What do you feel when you read them?
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Centering Prayer
from The Book of Common Prayer · Easter Vigil
Almighty God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
On Salt and Light
Starting with the question, “Who are the salt and light?” Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes:
Those being spoken to are those called in the Beatitudes into the grace of following the crucified one. So far the blessed have appeared as people worthy of the kingdom of heaven, but obviously at the same time as people unworthy of living, superfluous for this earth. Now they are described using the image of the most indispensable commodity on earth. They are the salt of the earth. They are the noblest asset, the highest value the world possesses. Without them the earth can no longer survive. The earth is preserved by salt; the world lives because of these poor, ignoble, and weak people, whom the world rejects.
Thus, the disciples are focused not only on heaven, but are reminded of their mission on earth. As those bound to Jesus alone are they sent to the earth, whose salt they are. When Jesus calls his disciples “the salt,” instead of himself, this transfers his efficacy on the earth to them. He brings them into his work.
To flee into invisibility is to deny the call. Any community of Jesus which wants to be invisible is no longer a community that follows him.— Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, 110–112
How are we to be “salt”?
Scot McKnight comments:
Salt, which was obtained from the shores of the Dead Sea, was added to sacrifices and thus was covenant salt (Lev 2:13); salt purified things (Exod 30:35). Salt flavored things (Job 6:6), and seasoning is found in the parallel at both Mark 9:50 and Luke 14:34, and it was a preservative. Salt was a necessity of life. Furthermore, possibly carrying on a theme in the Beatitudes, salt was connected with peace and friendship (Mark 9:50; Col 4:6). The image begs its listeners to use its evocative powers for the various ways Jesus’ followers can influence their communities.
How are we the “light”?
McKnight again — pointing back to the Isaiah text Matthew has just cited (Isaiah 9:1–2, quoted at Matthew 4:14–16):
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan — The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.— Isaiah 9:1–2
— McKnight, Sermon on the Mount
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. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In 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.
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
For Further Reflection
After sitting with Jesus’ words, give yourself a few quiet minutes with these closing questions. They are meant to bridge the exercise into your week — to take what the Spirit has stirred and let it find a place in your actual life.
How have I felt overlooked, unworthy, unloved?
Bonhoeffer shines a light on the stark contrast. The very people deemed “unworthy of living” by the rest of the world are made “indispensable” by the call of Christ — where do I need to hear that in my own life?
Where, specifically, is Jesus calling me to be salt this week?
Ask God for a specific place, or a specific person. Is there a conversation, a relationship, a corner of work or family where preserving, seasoning, or peace-making is mine to do?
Where am I tempted to flee into invisibility?
Bonhoeffer’s warning is sharp: a community of Jesus that wants to be invisible has stopped following Him. What corner of my life is God inviting into the open?
How can I shine God’s light this week?
A city on a hill cannot be hid. It begins by allowing the light of Christ to shine in our own lives. And like angled mirrors, we then get to reflect His light around us. How can I participate in that light this week?
Write down whatever surfaces. Bring it to God in prayer. Then, when you are ready, return to your day.
Works Cited & Notes
Prayers
Opening prayer adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, “A Prayer for Guidance.” Centering prayer adapted from The Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Easter Vigil.
Quotations
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, vol. 4), Fortress Press, pages 110–112.
Scot McKnight, Sermon on the Mount (Story of God Bible Commentary), Zondervan Academic — comments on Matthew 5:13–14.
Scripture
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
