Salt and Light of the Earth

Salt and Light of the Earth

Mt 5: 13 – 16

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction

Today’s reading tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus speaks to us about our identity as his followers who transform the world through our lives.

The Gospel

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.

Reflection

Today’s Gospel gives us a description of who we are from Jesus’ own perspective. To make us understand his perspective, he uses a form of language where he likens us to elements like salt and light, common elements which we encounter daily in our lives. This makes his perspective both easy to understand but striking at the same time. 

First, both salt and light are elements that are singled out by Jesus to highlight the effects they have on things outside of themselves. Salt gives flavor not on itself but on things other than itself, like food for instance. Light is something similar. The brightness that any light produces is not for itself, but for its surroundings. If salt and light are taken on their own and isolated from all other things, their existence makes no sense. 

This is why Jesus says that if salt doesn’t do its purpose of adding and giving flavor, it becomes useless. Similarly, if light doesn’t brighten up and illuminate its surroundings ( just like when it is covered under a basket ), it too becomes useless. Our identity then, in Jesus’ view and perspective, becomes meaningful and purposeful only when our surrounding is transformed and changed into something pleasant and beautiful. Our presence and our lives should effect such changes in the places where we live and in the communities where we work. But if our presence and our lives do not have this transforming effect on our community, then our identity as followers of Christ becomes meaningless. 

If such is the effect of our lives on our environment and community, Jesus tells us that our identify as Christians will no longer remain hidden, much like the city on top of a hill. The good that we do in our own families and in our communities will be felt and will be known. Goodness will have its own way of diffusing itself. 

However, the purpose of diffusing such goodness is not meant for oneself. It is meant for the transformation of the earth and of the whole world. There is something in salt that we must understand. When salt flavors food, it disappears and remains invisible to the eye; its presence is felt only because of its effect on the food. Similarly, when light shines, it illuminates the objects that are the focus of one’s work and interest. The light, most of the time, is taken for granted. 

The truth remains that while we transform and change the world around us, we Christians remain inconspicuous; we do not announce or proclaim loudly the good that we do. Nonetheless, despite our quiet and silent ways, the good that we do is felt by many. The effects of our goodness remain hidden in the lives of those we have inspired and helped. It is hidden in many societies whose institutions have been inspired by so much of what we have done and accomplished. It is hidden in the lives of those that we love and for whom we have sacrificed much so that their lives can be lived to the fullest. 

Like Jesus who has made all things beautiful for us and have transformed our world into a loving and caring place, we too must follow his steps of becoming salt and light to a world that still needs to know the Lord’s goodness and light.

Prayer

Jesus, you have made our lives beautiful. Because of you, we no longer walk in the dark. You have made all of this possible because of your great love and sacrifice which you showed on the cross. Help us Lord to transform the world we live in by being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. So that just like you, we can make other people’s lives beautiful and bright. Amen.

 “ If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted, then your light shall rise for you in the darkness and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” – Isa 58: 10