Gospel Reading: Mt 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”
SALT OF THE EARTH…LIGHT OF THE WORLD
After the Beatitudes, Jesus tells the disciples of their responsibility in society. The focus of God’s action is the world – not simply the Church. “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” It is about our actions in the world.
In the first place, Christians are to be the salt of the earth. In the ancient world, salt is highly valued. The Greeks call salt divine. It performs two important functions. It is a preservative that keeps things from going bad. In the second place, salt gives taste and flavor to food. Food without salt is bland.
Our task is to be the salt of society, preserving, reconciling, adding taste, giving meaning where there is no meaning, giving hope where there is no hope.
We are also called to be the light of the world. The New English Bible renders v 14a, “You are the light for all the world.” It means we are to be light in all aspects of the world’s life. It also means we are to be light for all the peoples of the world. It takes us out of our preoccupation with our Christian community alone and widens our horizon to bring light to all peoples and members of other religions as well.
“Be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world” (Phil 2:15)
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SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.