Salt of The Earth and Light of The World
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
(Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalms 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5; Matthew 5:13-16) (05/01/2023)
By Fr. Samuel Odeh
Christians are salt and light. How do we as Christians bring the flavor or sweetness of Christ into the world around us? In what ways do we make the light of Christ enlighten and illuminate our communities and the people we meet everyday? Our readings today provide us with some answers. Our first reading from the Book of it prophet Isaiah tells us that our light shall break forth like the dawn, like the rising of Christ's sun in the morning when we share our bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into our houses, and cover the shame of the naked, and do not hide from our fellow human beings. If we do the work of charity other blessings and rewards are promised to us. Our healing shall spring up speedily, righteousness shall go ahead of us and the glory of God shall protect us from behind, says the prophet. In addition, the Lord will answer our prayers and we shall enjoy his presence. If we as believers do not oppress others and make life unnecessarily difficult for others if we do away with pointing fingers at one another, and speaking wickedness, and if we pour out ourselves for the hungry and attend to the needs of those who are suffering afflictions among us, then shall our light rise in the darkness and gloom shall be brightened like the midday sun.
Saint Paul, in today’s second reading from his first letter to the Christian community at Corinth, tells us that there is a direct connection between our good works and the presence of the Holy Spirit. He did not bring them the message of Christ using big words and human wisdom. He came to them in complete human weakness relying only on God. The good works he did in their midst were thanks to his faith in the sacrificing love of Christ Jesus. “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified”. Christians truly bring the sweetness and light of Christ to their brothers and sisters when the self-outpouring of Christ takes over their lives. Our good works must demonstrate the presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God. When other people see our good works on behalf of the poor and suffering, they are to see the power of God working through us.
In our Gospel reading today Jesus tells his disciples that they are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”. He cautions them against losing their sweetness and hiding there. What could make us as Christians lose our sweetness and how can we prevent it from happening? Do we sometimes hide our light or do certain conditions keep the light of Christ from shining through us? Can a sick person bear witness to Christ? Is it sorrow and deep sadness after the death of a loved one? Is it anxiety over our needs? Is it a lack of gainful employment? Can power failure or energy crisis keep us from the love of Christ? Will we stop being Christians if our preferred candidate does not win during the forthcoming elections? Can cash problems keep us from being generous during collections in church? We are reminded of what the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to as the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. The Corporal Works of Mercy are acts of kindness through which we attend to the physical and material needs of our neighbors such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, and burying the dead. The Spiritual Works of Mercy on the other hand are acts of compassion through which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual needs such as counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing sinners, comforting the afflicted, forgiving offenses, bearing wrongs patiently, and praying for the living and the dead.
Let us pray that we may be endowed with strength and guidance from the Holy Spirit and that we may do the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy with diligence. May we not be ashamed to do the work of God’s Church openly, may we never lose our desire to serve God and neighbour, and may our light so shine as to give glory to our heavenly Father.
