First Reading: Isaiah 58: 7 – 10
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 1 – 5
Gospel: Matthew 5: 13 – 16
“YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD”
The common theme of the readings today is our mission to the world as salt and light. Mother Teresa: “She was born as Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu (AG-nes GOHN-jah BOY-yah-jee-oo), to Albanian parents in Yugoslavia. . She went to India in 1929 as a member of the Loreto Order of nuns, after learning English in their Motherhouse in Dublin Ireland. She taught in India for many years and became principal of the school. In 1946, she received her ‘call within a call’ to work with the poorest of the poor. By 1948, she had received permission to leave the Loreto order and had trained in the nursing skills she would need to carry out her calling. She prayed, “Oh God, if I cannot help these people in their poverty and their suffering, let me at least die with them, close to them, so that I can show them your love” “From this simple beginning, the Missionaries of Charity have grown to include 4,500 Sisters and Brothers, 755 homes for the children, the sick, the destitute and the dying and 1,369 medical clinics that serve 120,000 worldwide.”
We too can become the salt of the earth and the light of the world as Mother Teresa did.
In our First Reading, the prophet Isaiah gives examples of how we are to allow the light of God to shine through us: “Share your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday” The Prophet Isaiah speaks in terms of justice and compassionate care for the weak, needy, and vulnerable because it is through them that the very goodness of God is revealed, and the disciple’s light will shine like the dawn. Alleviating the suffering of the oppressed and tending to the needs of others are the activities which produce light. It is by avoiding malice and by comforting the afflicted, that we enable others to see and experience the light of the Lord’s favour. St. Paul learned the lesson from his experience in Athens that his human eloquence did not help his missionary work. Hence, in Corinth Paul says that he chose not to rely on human eloquence, “so that your Faith might rest, not on human wisdom, but on the power of God.” So, Paul started preaching only on Christ crucified in Corinth and instructed the intellectuals in Corinth to learn the lesson of self-sacrifice from the crucified Christ. Using two simple metaphors in today’s Gospel, Jesus outlines the role of Christians in this world. The Christian’s task is to be the salt of society, preserving, reconciling, adding flavour, giving meaning where there is no meaning and giving hope where there is no hope. Every Christian needs to reflect the light borrowed from Christ and radiate that light in the form of love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and humble service. Are we insipid salt? Jesus went on to say that, if salt became insipid, it was fit only to be thrown out and trodden on by men. Usually salt does not lose its flavour and its saltiness. But when mixed with impurities, salt can lose its ability to enhance flavour. We, too, might lose our ability to be a “flavouring agent” for the world if we allow “impurities” into our lives (1 Cor 15:33). Therefore, we need to keep ourselves free from sin (Eph 5:3-7). As the salt of the earth, the Christians keep the fire of Faith alive even under stress. If Christian “salt” loses its “flavour,” its “uselessness” invites disaster. As a Christian, one is not fulfilling one’s purpose if one does not bring to life the purity, the antiseptic power, and the flavour of salt, for then one invites disaster. Today, there is a new, non-irritating, brand of Christianity around. It is without offence and without effect. Ah, but dear friends, Jesus didn’t call us to be the “sugar of the world.” He called us to be the “salt of the earth.” Christians must be visible like a “city” on a hilltop and a lamp on a “lamp stand.” Jesus therefore expects His followers to be seen by the world (Jn 13:35; 17:21). In addition, they must radiate and give light. “Let your light shine before men” (Mt 5:16). We need to live our short lives as traces of salt and candles of light: It only takes a sprinkling of salt to transform a dull and tasteless piece of meat. Just a little salt transforms everything. Just a pinch of soul-salt will add flavour to the lives of hundreds, or even thousands. Just as salt acts as a preservative and adds flavour to food, so the exemplary lives of Christians lend flavour to life by helping people to live correctly and by keeping society wholesome. Just a little light empties the world of darkness. With a little Faith and love we can light up a big social area. Does that encourage us? It should. We may think we’re insignificant – and in a way we are – but with a little bit of Christ’s Light, we become a veritable lighthouse, illuminating the way for many. This Christ-light removes the darkness caused by hatred, spite, fear, and jealousy. Our good deeds and actions reflect the image of Jesus, the light of the world. We can speak with kindness and respect, we can value ourselves, we can tell the truth, and we can use our talents. We can listen and talk, we can engage in dialogue, and we can come to know people of different ethnic backgrounds, people with different lifestyles and sexual preferences, people of other Faiths and people of no Faith – and this will bring the light of Christ to illumine and change the world. Salt is a hidden but powerful influence. Light is a visible and revealing influence. Jesus tells us that we are not only to be the salt of the earth but also the light of the world. We are called to make a visible, tangible impact on the world around us.
Does our life make a difference? It should. Jesus said we are to be salt and light.
Does our life make a difference? It can, if we surrender ourselves to Christ.
Does our life make a difference? If we live for Him, it will!