Salt and Light

Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16

Salt and light have something in common, perhaps why Jesus uses them in today's Gospel portion on what a disciple should be.  Salt and light are not the main attraction.  No one orders salt and eats just it.  And no one puts on a light in order to look at the light.  Salt is used to enhance the flavor of something else or to preserve that item.  Light is used in order that we might see other things by it.  Salt and light are used to complement and enhance other things.

A disciple of the Lord Jesus, then, does not exist for themselves.  They are not to be the main attraction.  A disciples is supposed to exist in order to make others better, to shine a light on the good in the world.  We are to preserve and season those around us.  We are to shine light through the works of love and mercy on the good that the world does not regard as good - those cast off to the margins: the poor, the marginalized, the foreigner, immigrant, migrant, refugee.  

The Good Samaritan uses his oil and wine to save and preserve one left on the margins, one who was in the eyes of the world his enemy.  Today we are called to use our salt and light in the same way: to go out into the byways of the world to save and preserve those the world regards as dross.  And we are to do so as humby and quietly as salt and light do their work - not to be seen, but to be effective in this work of love and mercy to others.