We heard the beginning of the sermon on the Mount last Sunday in Jesus’ proclamation of the Beatitudes. Today, Jesus continues the core of his teachings in the Sermon on the Mount with the striking images of light and salt.
The prophet Isaiah sets the tone of our Gospel today by calling us to a special fast: releasing those that are bound unjustly, setting free the oppressed, and breaking off the yoke. We do those things, according to Isaiah, when we share our bread with the hungry, reach out to the afflicted and the homeless, and clothing the naked. When we do that, light will break forth from us like the dawn. Our light does not break forth from us to bring ourselves praise and glory, but rather to bring others to the Lord, to assist those in need, and to bring God’s justice to the world.
Jesus gave the sermon on the mount on a hill looking over the Sea of Galilee. His original audience would have been the simple hard-working people of Ancient Israel. Some of them would have been fishermen like Peter, James, and John. This was not an important part of the Roman Empire. They did not have powerful positions in society. What would they have thought by Jesus calling them the salt of the earth and the light of the world? As modern day disciples, how are we call to be salt and light in the world today?
In Jesus’ day, before refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food and to keep it from spoiling. Salt also enhances the flavor of food. But if salt loses its power to preserve and if it loses its flavor, it is of no use. When Jesus says that we are to be the salt of the earth, he means that we have the task here on earth to preserve and give flavor. We are to preserve the life of God’s grace that Jesus has brought to the world. We are to give flavor to people’s lives. Just as salt enhances the quality of food, we as salt can enhance the quality of others’ lives. Life becomes tasty and full of flavor when it contains the salt of Jesus, Through Jesus’ word, through his loving kindness and benevolence, and through his mercy and forgiveness, we can add flavor to the lives of the people. Jesus needs disciples who will live out his Gospel values and who bring these values to others, manifesting his kindness, love, and compassion. Jesus says that if salt loses its taste, “it is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” We need to remember that as we live out our lives of faith each day.
In a world mired in a lot of darkness, hurt, and pain, being a light might see like an impossible task. However, we must remember that we can be a light in the world only through Jesus, who is the true light, and who instructed his disciples to go to all nations and peoples and to bring his light to them. From those first simple followers of Jesus who went out two by two as missionaries , the light of Christ spread from those first disciples to all the ends of the earth. This light continues to spread today. This is our mission, whatever our state in life. We are to let the light of Christ shine through us wherever we go and whatever we do. We are to do this by living out our faith as best we can, by putting our faith into action, especially loving our neighbor as Christ loved us.
We often see ourselves as being a light in the world and being the salt of the earth in terms of evangelization. But we also need to see it in terms of justice and mercy. Echoing a message that is similar to the message of the prophet Isaiah today, the psalmist states that “the just man is a light in darkness to the upright.” According to the psalmist, this light shines when one is gracious, merciful, and just.
Jesus uses this symbolism of light and salt right after he preaches the Beatitudes in the sermon on the Mount, which we heard in last weekend’s liturgies. We live the Beatitudes when we are salt and light. We bring flavor and light to people when we live as disciples of the Beatitudes. How are we being light and salt to the other other members of our families, to our classmates, our friends, our co-workers, and our fellow parishioners? Do we bring light and salt to the needy, the afflicted, and the suffering?
I received a letter from a man in the quick bed area of the prison about two years ago. It is the worst of the living areas of the prison; it is a place that is ruled by gang members and where drugs and violence are the daily reality. It is hard for me to visit the men living in those quarters. They often feel isolated, lost, and forgotten. This man was asking for a visit from the priest, for me to bring him a Bible and a rosary. On the back of the letter, in big bold print, he wrote: “Communion Desperately Needed.” We need communion in two forms: communion in Christ in the Eucharist and communion with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, the Church. I had told that story to my classmates in the Notre Dame program, and one of my classmates, Bob Dunn, who is the Diocesan Director of Public Policy, used that story in coming up the name of the podcast that he hosts in conjunction with Parable Magazine, Finding Communion. In our communion with Christ, we will find that support we need to be light and salt in the world.
