FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Isaiah 58:7-10

Psalm 111

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Matthew 5:13-16

SALT AND LIGHT

“You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world.” These are Jesus’ words to his disciples in today’s gospel passage, taken from his sermon on the mount. Salt and light are two familiar images; and yet Jesus uses them to reveal the identity and mission of Christians in the world. Among the multiple functions of salt, it is mainly used for flavouring and for preserving food. Light, on the other hand, reveals the beauty of the world and the beings that inhabit it, and preserves them from living in darkness (Matt. 5:13-16).

What is common to these two ordinary elements is that they do not exist for themselves, but for others. For example, salt gives flavour to food by disappearing, by dissolving. Thus, being “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” is tantamount to living for others, and serving them in discretion, in self-effacement, in humility to the glory of God. And this is what Jesus did when he offered himself on the cross for us. 

Accordingly, St Paul tells the Corinthians that proclaiming the mystery of God to them as revealed in Jesus Christ, he resolved to know nothing among them except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. For this mystery is a scandal to human logic and is to be communicated not so much in persuasive words or rhetoric or philosophical arguments, but through concrete ways of living in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:1-5). Moreover, according to the prophet Isaiah, being sensitive to the needs of others is a manifestation of God’s presence. In other words, concrete gestures of mercy, justice, love, sharing and generosity towards others, especially towards the needy, attract the favour, healing and closeness of God (Is. 58:7-10).  

As such, today’s message is addressed to each one of us. If there is much growing neglect for the poor and the needy, corruption, social injustices, unhealthy competition, conflicts, etc., in our world today, it is because we Christians are not conscious of our mission, or better still we have failed, to be “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” As Pope Paul VI rightly said “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” It is therefore time to be more conscious of this and pray to God to grant us the grace so as to be his authentic witnesses. Amen