Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What does he mean by these images? How are we light and salt? Two stories might help. The first story begins 2,700 years ago in the city of Jerusalem. The king at the time was King Hezekiah, and King Hezekiah had a problem. The water source for the city of Jerusalem lay outside its walls, therefore, making the city very vulnerable to attack. For if an army besieged the city, they could cut off the water supply and thus assure that in a very short time the city would have to surrender. King Hezekiah decided he was going to dig a tunnel, and he did so through solid rock—1,700 feet of tunnel that brought the water from the outside source into a pool within Jerusalem. Now the tunnel’s source was secret at the time so that the enemies would not know about it, but it has been recently discovered by archeologists. Today, if you go to Jerusalem, you can walk through King Hezekiah’s tunnel. This week I ran into an account of a pastor from Washington, DC, who did just that.

– How does our presence, yours and mine,
season the lives of those around us?
Recalling that the human tongue knows four major tastes:
sweet, sour, salty, bitter —
what taste do I leave in others’ mouths?

– What flavor do I bring to the culture I live in?

– Is my soul’s salt fresh? has it gone stale? become bland? useless?
Or do I over-salt and thus render what I try to season unpalatable?

– Do I need to heed the words of Isaiah and remove from my own mouth
any malicious speech, any hasty and false accusation?

– What executive orders have I issued and do I follow
to bar the entry of some into my heart, into my life –
keeping out some, even in my own family, my neighborhood, my parish,
or where I work or go to school.

– What walls do I build in my own life to keep out
those I don’t want to let in?

– Do I live in an invisibly walled community
that allows some in and very subtly keeps others out,
keeps them far away?

– What light, what warmth do I bring to my family and neighbors?
to my classmates at school? to my colleagues at work?

– Does my life, the light of my presence,
help others discover the beauty of what’s around us,
the truth of what’s to be known?

– Or do I shade and dim or extinguish the light others need,
light that should be coming from me
light to help others see, light to keep others warm.

These are hard questions at any time, regardless of the day’s news,
and certainly questions I need to raise for myself
particularly when I find myself I holding others accountable
to the scripture’s standards.

Jesus Christ crucified in the motivation of Pauline Theology. Today he is presented in his letter to the Corinthians, writing that, “…the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ”. Thus from the message of today’s gospel, we anticipate an exemplary or rather a sympathetic life informed by the knowledge of the crucified Christ. Jesus Christ admonishes his disciples that their exemplary life will attract praises to God. They are to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. Although there is isn’t much difference between the earth and the world, both represent a sequence that will eventually radiate the glory of God.

The earth could be seen as space to cultivate the virtues that motivate righteousness. The virtues as mentioned today by the Prophet Isaiah thus; Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, clothe the man you see to be naked and do not turn from your own kin. These are the things that will unite us. They are informed by the cross in the sense that what is revealed on the cross is the Satan, the contagion that is responsible for all the crisis in human relationship. The crisis that promotes hate is what Jesus Christ revealed on the cross. The cross revealed Satan as the one whose mission is to steal and kill and destroy. (John 10:10). The forgiveness on the cross promotes love. Satan hid behind the cross of previous convictions of the innocent (Victimization) to promote hate disguised as justice. But Jesus Christ mounted the same cross to reveal the disguised justice for what it really is, namely, hate. By his forgiveness, he restored peace through love. Like salt, the knowledge of the cross will restore love and wash away the foulness of hatred.

Building our conviction to do good through the knowledge of the cross, will make our light to shine in the world. The world represent the space of experience between us and others. Standing on the earth foundation of love informed by the knowledge of the cross, we enlighten others still in the darkness of ignorance. The light of our conviction and the fire of truth burning in our hearts will melt the hardest of hearts and will dispel the darkness of doubt and fear. Like the Prophet Isaiah explained in the first reading, ‘If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon’. Fr. Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.

A while back I saw a bleak play called Avenue Q. I thought it would be good because it had been the number one musical and because it was unique. It used puppets. Well, it turned out to be a play for adults hiding behind children’s games and puppets. It’s main theme was “It is rotten to be me,” only it didn’t use the word rotten. It used a word that has come into modern parlance but which has obscene origins. The play turned out to be one of those ultra-dark comedies where people just laugh at how things keep getting worse. It concludes with a step over pessimism by saying that even the worst things are only for a while. The play reflected that same pessimism that prevailed in so much of existential philosophy. Sartre, Ionesco, and many others focused in on life, and concluded that there was no hope for the world. For them existence was a black hole. Suicide was the only reasonable escape. It is to these people who live in darkness that Christ sends us. “You are the Light of the world,” we heard in today’s Gospel. We are the world’s hope. We carry within us the joy of Jesus, the unsurpassable wisdom of the Lord.

God is allowing the tragedy unfolding in the Church and in the world, in part, to test our faith.  If our faith is based on human wisdom, it will fail.  If it is based on the power of God and founded upon a strong prayer life, our faith will flourish in these times.  If we are to be the light of the world, as Jesus tells us we are to be, then our faith is not just about “me and Jesus” nor is it about white knuckling it through the problems and difficulties of life.

The first reading tells us to share our bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked, and refuse to turn our backs on our own.  Then, God says through Isaiah, our light will break forth like the dawn, our vindication will go before us, and the glory of God will be our rear guard.  Isaiah goes on to say that if we remove oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech; if we give bread to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted, then light shall rise for us in the darkness.

These works are the fruit of faith that shine with the Light of Christ and find their expression in charity.  These are the kinds of works the Lord wants to see in our lives, works that come from the heart and reveal the power and wisdom of God.

Today, our Lord gives us three familiar and equally enigmatic metaphors which speak to us about Christian discipleship and Christian witnessing. He tells us that we are the “salt of the earth,” “light of the world” and “a city built on a hill-top.” Today, we scarcely give a second thought to our use of salt. In fact, we are concerned about too much salt in our diets. We also try to minimise the amount of light energy that we use. We replace still-working bulbs with more energy efficient ones. We get reminded to turn off lights when we leave a room. As for cities, so many hate the hustle and bustle of urban living, and attempt to get away from the crowd and escape to the more rustic rural life for some peace and quiet.  Today salt, light and cities enter our lives and consciousness most often as things which seem undesirable.

But during our Lord’s time, salt, light and fortified cities were critical elements to making life more livable, more complete, more secure. People had no qualms using them. But today, perhaps due to our lack of fully appreciating the context has led to some confusion about what it means to be salt, light and a city built on a hill.

You are salt of the earth. Salt gives flavour to food. Even though today we are cautioned about the amount of salt we take in, nevertheless, that takes nothing away from the quality of salt to give taste to food. Food without salt is tasteless. Besides, in those days when there was no fridge salt was used to conserve food from rotting.

You are light of the world. We are able to see and appreciate the beauty of things, thanks to light. Imagine someone lost in the middle of nowhere in the dark of the night. Spotting a light even a dimming one is source of immense hope. Light guides. It’s hard to explain the importance of light; you appreciate it better when it’s absent.

What do salt and light tell us about Christian witness?

Salt and light are useful always in relation. They are there not for themselves but for others. Salt that remains in the cellar without being put in food remains useless. It will only end up being denatured, losing even its saltiness. Similarly, what’s light if it remains enclosed and doesn’t brighten its surrounding?

That says a lot about our way being Christian in the world. Jesus does not call Christians to confine themselves in the ghetto of their religious likeness. For Christians holiness does not consist in setting themselves apart but in their involvement in creating a world that is more human and fraternal. It calls for rolling up our sleeves and get to work.

Our mission is to help those who have lost the taste of living recover the meaning of life. We are called to be a beacon of hope those who may be stumbling in the dark of hopelessness. Surely, there are people who have lost points of reference in their lives. We can offer them a helping hand.

The gospel challenges the tendency to lead one’s life as though the feet were somehow suspended in the air. Indeed, our desire for the Kingdom of God resides in our commitment to down-to-earth concerns of our world today. We live the values of the kingdom right in this world. That’s why Pope Francis remarks: “I prefer a church which is bruised and dirty because it has been out on the streets…”

In a world characterised by individualism, egocentrism and materialistic consumerism, weak social bonds, abandoning the weakest and considering some as useless, Pope Francis insists, “The many situations of inequality, poverty and injustice, are signs not only of a profound lack of fraternity, but also of the absence of a culture of solidarity”. (2014 World Day for Peace Message, Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace.)

This reminds us of the concluding prayer Pope John Paul II used in the Encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis – “On Social Concern” (1987) : “Father, you have given all peoples one common origin, and your will is to gather them as one family in yourself. Fill the hearts of all with the fire of your love, and the desire to ensure justice for all their brothers and sisters. By sharing the good things you give us. May we secure justice and equality for every human being, end all division and build a human society on love and peace.”

These and many other Church’s social teachings show how today’s first reading is applied. As Christians we are challenged to cultivate a solidarity culture. For our Christian light to shine in the World today, for our prayers to be heard, Isaiah does not mince words in insisting that we must help the poor.

In the face of suffering in the world, several world summits have been organised in very comfortable areas and many philosophies and sophistries have been made. After such meetings, statistics on the number of poor people in the world are given. These do not solve the problems because the poor are getting poorer every day. Like Paul in the Second Reading, solidarity with the poor should not end with an oratory or a philosophy.

Christ reminds us of a fundamental truth; we should be the salt to the earth and the light of the world. Our presence in the world must bring hope and a chance for others to see goodness and notice love; a love many may have been longing for but had not been able to see.

Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century. Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat which got bad quickly in a hot environment. Believers in Christ therefore preserve the world from the evil inherent in a society of ungodly men whose unredeemed nature sin has corrupted.
Second, salt was used, as now, as a flavour enhancer. In the same way that salt enhances the flavour of the food it seasons, the followers of Christ “enhance” the flavour of life in this world.

Light dispels darkness. Therefore, the presence of light in darkness is something unmistakable. The presence of Christians in the world must be like light in the darkness, not only in the sense that the truth of God’s Word brings light to the darkened hearts of sinful man (John 1:1-10), but also in that our good deeds must be evident for all to see. We cannot be salt and light and be blind to those suffering around us. It is only when we remain focused on Christ and obey Him that we can remain the salt and light of the world.

After I fractured my leg, I spent a night in a clinic. The nurse hooked me up to an intravenous solution. I asked her what it was and she said, “sodium chloride”. Salt.

We take salt for granted but a certain amount is essential for life and health. Today Jesus tells his disciples, “you are the salt of the earth.” What does that mean? How do you and I become salt for other?

To answer that question I would like to tell you about a remarkable man. Born Bernard Casey, he was a restless teenager. Leaving the family farm at age 17 he got a series of jobs: lumberjack, hospital orderly, prison guard and street car driver. In that job he witnessed a man stab to death a young woman. The brutal murder shook him up and made him think seriously about what he wanted to do with his life.

He entered the Milwaukee seminary but did so poorly in his studies they advised him to join a religious order. The Capuchins accepted him and he became a “simplex priest” which means he could celebrate Mass but not preach doctrinal sermons or hear confessions. Bernard received a new name – Fr. Solanus – and they assigned him as monastery doorman.

Many people would consider that a dead-end job, but Fr. Solanus didn’t see it that way. He put his whole heart into it. People with problems began to come to him for prayer. Once a family brought a sixteen month old girl suffering from leukemia. They had exhausted all medical avenues. The child was so weak she could not walk up a step. Fr. Solanus listened to the parents, prayed with them and said, “Thank God ahead of time.” He bent down, gave little Elizabeth a piece of candy and whispered, “You’re going to be all right.” When the parents took Elizabeth back to the specialists, they were shocked. All traces of the leukemia had disappeared.

This miracle illustrates Fr. Solanus’ secret – how God made him salt for the earth. His secret was gratitude. He used to say that gratitude is the first sign of intelligence. He added that the worst ingratitude is atheism. I sometimes wonder how much of the modern denial of God comes down to lack to gratitude. Fr. Solanus observed, “ingratitude leads many to break with God and our neighbor.”

I have to admit in the past few weeks I’ve done my share of grumbling and complaining. I’ve been helped by Fr. Solanus – now known as Blessed Solanus Casey. He had a difficult life and in the end suffered a long, painful disease. Still – as far as we know – he did not fall into ingratitude. He kept saying, “Thank God ahead of time.” Thus Blessed Solanus became salt to heal and sustain others. Perhaps his secret lay in what Paul said in the second reading: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Amen

Why would Jesus say we are salt and not to lose taste? (Matt 5:13) Just before this, Jesus taught the beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12). The beatitudes concluded by telling us that we are blessed if people persecute us because we are followers of Jesus (Matt 5:11-12). Then Jesus said his followers are the salt of the earth, but they are not to lose their taste. So, in the face of persecution of any kind for being followers of Jesus, our reaction is to remain steadfast and not lose our flavor. In fact, what is translated as “losing taste,” in Matthew’s Greek means “becoming foolish.” It would be foolish to stop following Jesus or be afraid to publicly follow Jesus because of pressure from others. In some parts of Europe, young people are put under a lot of peer pressure not to go to Mass on Sunday. In such a situation, continuing to go to Mass despite peer pressure, is one example of retaining taste and not being foolish. The world can sometimes react to Christians by opposition or persecution. How are we to react back? By remaining steadfast, by keeping our flavor. In fact, when Jesus asked how to restore taste to salt that has lost its taste, he probably meant that you cannot restore the flavor to salt again because it doesn’t normally lose its flavor [In the Babylonian Talmud (b.Bek. 8B / b. Bek. 1:2i, I.7.QQ) a rabbi asks the same question, but it is a joke]. So just as salt doesn’t lose its flavor, a follower of Jesus is not to become foolish, is not to be embarrassed to be seen as a disciple of Jesus.

We must stop putting pressure on those near us to be different. Neither are we expected to do violence to ourselves and try to force ourselves to accept behaviour that offends us. We are to be honest with each other, but always humble, always aware that we could be wrong and always respectful of the mystery of the other person. If I need to change, the best help you can give me is to love me. Please God the day will come when I recognise your love and heed your words. Then your truth may assist me to change. I am not pretending that any of this is easy. Relationships can be a bit like being in the open sea at the mercy of tides and winds over which we have little or no control. And so Jesus takes us back to the heart. Wherever you are now and whatever you have done, you, now, are capable of loving. Offer that love even if it breaks your heart. His last words were that we love others as he loves them. And so we come to the Gospel. To be disciples of Jesus is to share his mission from God. We are to be ‘salt’ to the earth, giving it taste, preserving it, consecrating it to God. Jesus warns us that we must be vigilant to preserve close communion with him. Otherwise we will be rendered useless, like salt that has lost its taste. Jesus’ disciples are to be ‘the light of the world’. Our lives are to be sacraments of God drawing all who witness our lives and good deeds to give thanks and praise to God. Jesus speaks of God as our Father, for his disciples share Jesus’ intimacy with God. We are Jesus’ brothers and sisters, truly ‘blessed’, sharing in his divine communion.

With his announcement of the kingdom, Jesus, like Isaiah, makes clear that he is calling his followers to have an impact on their world. After the Beatitudes and just before his teachings on radical trust, money, and forgiveness, he challenges his listeners to live out their discipleship precisely in the context of their culture and world.

  “You are the salt of the earth. But what if salt goes flat? How can you restore its flavor? You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. You do not light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket. You set it on a stand where it gives light to all.” Those who are enlisted in Jesus’ kingdom must let the light of faith shine before the world so that praise might be given to God.

Jesus seems aware that we may be tempted to hide our faith. We might repress it in our public lives, presuming that it has nothing to offer the “real” world of politics and economics. Or we may just keep it under a basket—a “private” matter that makes no difference to society.

A second temptation is related to the first. If we think that our faith really makes no difference in the “real” world, it goes flat. It has nothing special to offer the world. Having lost its special taste, it never changes culture. It just mimics it.

Jesus says that we are called to be salt of the earth. In recent decades, salt has gotten a bad reputation because of the health concerns associated with too much salt in our diet. Every time I visit a nutritionist, I am encouraged to limit the amount of salt in my diet. I mean, who doesn’t like salt, raise your hand? Salt is one of the basic tastes we have and a certain amount of it is important for health and even survival. Our culture just gets too much of it and so salt has become another four letter word. However, if we take a moment and look historically at the importance of salt, Jesus invitation to be the salt of the earth will make more sense.

First of all, in ancient times, salt was considered an important preservative. They didn’t have refrigerators other than what they could manage with underground pantries so when we discovered how salt could extend the shelf life of food, creating edible salt became a very important and lucrative business. Over time, salt therefore became an important item for trade between countries and was even traded as a kind of currency. As a result, it is interesting how often you find the word salt in many of the common words we use. For instance, the word “salary” believe it or not comes from word for salt. Your pay would be reflected by how much salt you earned for the day. The word “salad” comes from the word for salt in reference to the old practice of salting leafy vegetables. Take that nutritionists! Even the name given for the city of “Saltzburg” literally means “salt city” because of the importance of the salt industry throughout their history.

Keeping the faith means knowing the truths of our faith – like those in the Creeds – in an adult way. Professing it means affirming it and expressing our allegiance to it “without equivocation” – without ambiguity or double-talk. However, it is principally by bearing witness to it – acting according to our belief – that we spread the faith.

All this takes courage, for, as Christ warned us, “the world” hates us because of him.

We should be proud to bear witness to Christ, for it “makes an extraordinarily valuable contribution” to society, said Pope St. John Paul II: it helps to ward off “a headlong plunge into the most dangerous crisis” that can afflict the world, namely a “confusion between good and evil.”

If we live what we believe, we are public benefactors. In the Gospel Reading, Christ called us “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world.” He told us to let our light shine before others so that they may see goodness in us and give praise to God.

If we are questioned about our faith, then, we can answer with proud confidence. Yes, we believe in God, for atheism is not a reasonable alternative. Yes, we are convinced Catholics, for only the Catholic Church has the fullness of the truth that God has revealed to humans.