The current cultural consensus concerning identity is that it is chosen not received. In other words we are free to the extent we can choose who we are and how to live without external constraints. The modern answer to the ancient question: “Who am I?” is: be true to myself. Jesus counters that answer with the first two worlds of this text: “You are”. In other words, human identity is defined externally and ultimately by God, and that to the degree we heed Jesus’ call to be ‘salt and light’ to that degree do we discover our true selves.
Lent season is upon us! Use this time to reflect on what Jesus has done for us.
