Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

February 9, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 58: 7-10

Psalm 24 “The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

Gospel reading according to Matthew 5: 13-16

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Homily: Salt of the Earth and Light of the World

Two distinct characteristic features of us Catholic Christians are that we are salt of the earth and light of the world.  Salt gives taste to tasteless or flat food (our life), it also preserves food (our faith).  While light gives enlightenment to those in darkness and those whose lives have no hope, faith and love.  In today’s Gospel, many of Jesus’ words and actions shed light on the meaning of his way of living and acting in relation to us his disciples, especially in this salt and of this light discourse.  It is Jesus’ life and message.  We have to fix our attention to him when he said; 'You are the salt of the earth.'  Jesus calls us his disciples 'salt of the earth.'  Jesus said to his disciples: 'You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it seasoned?  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot' (Matthew 5: 13).  On the one hand, it looks as if Jesus' command or saying to us as his disciples seems too light or too easy to become. It is as simple as at first glance, to be salt of the earth. But as we examine it, its meaning is so deep that we have to learn what it means.  You are the salt of the earth.  In the very beginning we have already this salty taste in us as Christians.  All of us are qualified to become salt of the earth; no one is denied or excluded to this calling of Jesus, it is everybody’s vocation.  In Christ we share our common dignity.  All are called to do God’s will, and all cooperate in building one Body of Jesus Christ.  How can we become salt of the earth?  Jesus shows us the way, by loving our neighbors as he commanded us to do.  Jesus proclaimed the Reign-Kingdom of God by repentance, curing the sick and illnesses and driving out demons.  As Jesus lived and followed also the tradition of his ancestors, another way we can see also and apply to our lives what the prophet Isaiah, in the First Reading, had done.  Prophet Isaiah said, 'share your food with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked, and do not turn back on your own' (58: 7).  On the other hand, if our saltiness (giving taste to the life of others and preserving their faith) disappears and we become tasteless or flat, we become useless salt, as what Jesus said, 'But if salt loses its taste, with what can it seasoned?  It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.'

The same with the light as Jesus also compared us to the light, and he commanded us to become light for others, especially for those in darkness and in the shadow of death.  'You are the light of the world.  A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden' (Matthew 5: 14).  If we bring light to others so that they may see the right path and may not walk in darkness, as Prophet Isaiah continued saying, 'Then your light shall break forth like the dawn' (58: 8).  Whenever we do and say good things to our neighbors we shed light to their lives and our light shine forth as in morning glory.  Your light cannot be hidden; anybody can recognize our light because it comes from the Source of light and Light himself – Jesus Christ.  Nobody who is doing good to others can hide it and put his/her goodness under bushel basket or put it under his/her bed; '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' (Matthew 5: 15). The lamp (we) of the light must be put in a lampstand so that the whole house (the Church and the Body of Christ) will be lighted.  'Just so, your light must shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father' (Matthew 5: 16).  Again, Prophet Isaiah said, '. . . and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard ' (58: 8).  Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday' (58: 10). As what the psalmist said: “The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.”