Reflection
Jesus sure loved His metaphors! Today in Matthew’s Gospel He is calling us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. For generations “the salt of the earth” has been a widely recognized compliment. Our most revered heroes are often referred to as “shining lights”.
We may take the inexpensive seasoning that sits on our tables for granted, but people in Jesus’s time had a greater appreciation of its value and its symbolism. It was necessary to make bland foods edible and to preserve meats. Because of this it came to symbolize purity, joy, happiness and the preservation of life. Hebrews made a “covenant of salt” with God, showing their trust in Him by sprinkling salt on their offerings. Salt was used as barter along the ancient trade routes and some cultures utilized salt as currency. (The word salary comes from the Latin word for salt.)
Salt and light are both transformative substances. As Christians we are called to transform our world, to make it better. My “pinch of salt” could make a difference to someone in a financial, personal or spiritual crisis. With enough salt whole neighborhoods or even nations might be transformed!
The light from my candle could help someone find their way through a personal challenge. With enough candles we could light up the world!
Jesus reminds that when salt becomes insipid it is useless. Perhaps he is telling us that faith without works is meaningless. Today’s reading from Isaiah suggests where we might spread our salt – to the hungry, the oppressed and the homeless.
