Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu đã cho chúng ta thấy là người Kitô hữu, chúng ta được kêu gọi để trở thành như muối mặn và ánh sáng cho thế giới. Muối mặn không cho khẩu vị thêm cho chính nó, nhưng được dùng để ướp thực phẩm để được giữ lâu, và muối cùng được dùng để làm tăng cho khẩu vị thức ăn. Nếu như chúng ta bị huyết áp cao và bác sĩ nói với chúng ta là muốn sống thêm vài tuổi nữa thì nên có một chế độ ăn uống ít muối, nếu như thế, chúng ta sẽ cảm thấy ngay sự khác biệt trong những bữa cơm hàng ngày, vì thức ăn của chúng ta sẽ vô vị và nhạt nhẽo.
Ánh sáng cho trần gian! ... chúng ta có thể nhìn thấy bất cứ điều gì trong bóng tối? Khi Mẹ Têrêsa Calcutta đã được gọi là muối và ánh sáng, hãy thử nhìn xem những hành động mẹ đã làm? đó là những công việc khó khăn. Mẹ cầu nguyện rất nhiều, mẹ đã nhặt những cái “xác chết” trên các nẻo đường phố, Mẹ chăm sóc những người bị bỏ rơi. Mẹ đã làm những công việc như thế hàng ngày một cách lặng lẽ và không có gì đáng làm vui thích và thu hút nhiều người trên toàn thế giới. Mẹ Têrêsa đã làm cho nhiều người cảm kích, những người này có bao gồm cả những Kitô hữu và những người từ các tôn giáo khác. Mẹ đã cảm phục những người khác làm tốt hơn, để trở thành thiện hơn, từ bi hơn, trở thành người tốt hơn.
Chúng ta hãy làm những công cụ cho sự giác ngộ, như những nắm muối mặn hoặc là những đèn sang để mang đến khầu vị ngon lành, hay chiếu ánh sáng và ý nghĩa cho cuộc sống cho những người khác.
"Lạy Chúa Giêsu, Chúa đã hướng dẫn chúng con bằng ánh sáng của chân lý cứu độ của Chúa. Xin lấp đầy quả tim và tâm trí của chúng con với ánh sáng và chân lý của Chúa và giải thoát chúng con thoát khỏi sự mù quáng của tội lỗi và sự lừa dối để chúng con có thể thấy đường lồi của Chúa một cách rõ ràng và hiểu được thánh ý của Chúa ban cho cuộc sống của chúng con. Xin cho chúng con có thể tỏa ánh sáng và chân lý của Chúa cho những người khác trong lời nói và việc làm của chúng con.
Christians are called to be salt and light to the world. Salt gives taste not to itself but to all kinds of food. If we are hypertensive and the doctor tells us to take a low-salt diet we'll know definitely the difference. Food will be tasteless and bland.
Light to the world… can we see anything in darkness? When Mother Teresa of Calcutta was being the salt and light – it was hard work. She prayed a lot, she picked up the dying from the streets, she cared for the abandoned. She did her daily chores quietly and without funfair and it attracted many people in the whole world. Mother Teresa gave inspiration to many people, including Christians and those from other religious groups. She inspired others to do better, become more charitable, more compassionate, become better people. Let us be instruments of enlightenment, like the salt or the lamp which gives flavor, illumination and meaning to the lives of others.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. 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. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14–16
Light and darkness are not opposing forces; rather, darkness is simply the absence of light. When light enters, darkness is dispelled. In a similar way, good and evil are not equal forces. Evil is the absence of God’s presence and grace, and where God’s light shines, evil is overcome.
Today’s Gospel is part of the Sermon on the Mount, one of Jesus’ most well known teachings. The simile of light follows the Beatitudes, in which Jesus reveals the paradox of true blessedness in the Kingdom of God compared to fleeting worldly blessings. After teaching that true happiness is found in spiritual poverty, holy sorrow, meekness, righteousness, mercy, purity, peacemaking, and love in the face of persecution, Jesus calls His followers to radiate this blessedness to the world. They are to shine as a light in the midst of darkness, becoming beacons of God’s presence and grace, dispelling evil by their witness to divine truth and love.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus proclaims, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). In today’s Gospel from Matthew, Jesus extends this mission to His followers, teaching that they are the light of the world. As bearers of His light, they must not hide this gift but allow it to shine brightly for others, so that through their good works, God may be glorified.
This call to be light, therefore, is not simply a duty—it is a return to our truest selves, a fulfillment of our deepest purpose. In choosing to reflect the light of Christ through our good deeds, we not only dispel the darkness around us but also restore within ourselves the divine image that sin seeks to obscure. We become who we were made to be.
Yet, Jesus’ teaching points us beyond the fulfillment of a natural desire to make a positive difference. He elevates this longing by inviting us to participate in His supernatural mission, by which the Father is glorified. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit we are transformed into vessels of God’s light and love. It is not by our own power but through God’s light within us that we are able to radiate His truth and goodness to the world.
Reflect today on the desire God has placed within your heart to make a difference in the world. Begin with that desire but allow Christ to elevate it. Recognize that the greatest good you can do is to radiate God’s light. Jesus is the True Light, but He calls you to be a beacon, reflecting His love for all to see. When God’s light shines through us, we do not glorify ourselves but give glory to the Father, leading others to share in His glory. This mission—to be a lampstand for God’s light—is the highest calling of your life and the only way to fulfill the longing He has written into your heart. Embrace that mission, nourish it through prayer and the sacraments, and rejoice as God uses you to further His eternal glory.
Jesus, True Light of the World, You shine the radiance of Your truth and grace into my soul and call me to reflect Your light for others. Help me to magnify Your presence and glorify the Father through my life. Flood my soul with Your divine light, dispelling all darkness within me. Use me as Your instrument to renew the world in Your love and mercy. Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I listen to your Son’s Sermon on the Mount, I pray that the seed of his Word may find good soil to grow and flourish. Help me welcome your Word, die to myself, and bear fruit for your Kingdom.
Encountering the Word of God
1. Salt of the Earth: After announcing to his disciples the paths that lead to happiness and blessing in the New Covenant, Jesus speaks about his disciples’ calling and mission. If the disciples live the beatitudes, they will be the salt of the earth. What does this mean? In the ancient world, salt was used not only to season but also to preserve food. The fish from the Sea of Galilee, for example, were dried and salted in Magdala and could be transported to faraway places like Rome without spoiling. By calling his disciples the “salt of the earth,” Jesus indicates that his disciples are to season and add flavor to the world and preserve the peace of the New Covenant on the earth. One day, like the salted fish from Magdala, Jesus’ disciples will be sent from Jerusalem and Galilee to the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Salvation. If they lose their saltiness, however, they will be worthless and unable to extend the Gospel throughout the world. There is also a deeper meaning concerning salt. Salt was also used to season the grain or bread offerings in the Temple (Leviticus 2:13). The salt, added to the offering, signified the covenant meal between God and the offeror. As the salt of the earth, Jesus’ disciples are to be the salt that seasons the world so that the world can be offered to God as a pleasing sacrifice. If, however, they break the covenant and lose their saltiness, then Jesus’ disciples will be unable to sanctify the world and bring it to God as an offering in the New Covenant (see Pitre, Reflections on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A).
2. City-Light of the World: Matthew loves to organize things in the Sermon on the Mount into triads. The nine beatitudes, as we saw yesterday, can be grouped into three sets of three. The first three emphasize humility (poor in spirit, mourning, and meekness). The second set of three emphasizes justice and righteousness. The last set of three advocates for peace. In today’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount, the first image of being the salt of the earth is followed by the image of being the light of the world. And this second image becomes two images. First, we need to be like light that shines out from a city set on a mountain. The image points especially to the city of Jerusalem, set on Mt. Zion. While the countryside surrounding Jerusalem would be dark at night, the lights from the city could be seen from afar. The prophets foretold that one day, the law or instruction (torah) and the word of the Lord would stream forth into the world from Mt. Zion (see Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2). The disciples of Jesus are to carry the light of God’s Word to all the nations. This mission echoes Israel’s original vocation to be a light to the Gentile nations (Isaiah 42 and 49).
3. Lamp-Light in the Household of God: If Jesus’ disciples live the beatitudes, then they will not only be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, but they will also give light to the household of God in the Church. The images of salt, light from a city set on a mountain, and lamp-light all refer to the Temple in Jerusalem. Salt seasoned the sacrifices in the Temple, Jerusalem is the city set on Mt. Zion, and the seven lamps of the menorah lit the sanctuary. Just as salt was sent out into the world from Galilee, so olive oil, used in lamps, was also sent out into the world from Galilee. Jesus’ disciples will season the world and transform it into a pleasing sacrifice. They will teach the world with wisdom from Mt. Zion. They will bring the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth and overcome the darkness and ignorance caused by sin. They will be a light through their words and good deeds for their brothers and sisters in the Church.
Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world…” Matthew 5:13–14
Every Christian has two primary duties in life. First, we must strive for personal holiness. And second, we must work to help others achieve this same degree of holiness. This is what it means to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”
Consider salt. Salt is a preservative, and it also adds flavor to food. It does so by entering the food and, in a sense, disappearing. So it must be with us. First, our Lord must enter our lives and preserve us from the corruption of sin. But as He does so, He will also bring out our goodness in a way that the “flavor” of holiness is evident to others. In this way, we will be used as salt for others. This is especially done by our works of charity.
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said in her autobiography, “I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of their virtue.” She believed that this was especially the way we act as salt and light to others. We help to preserve others from sin by being merciful to them when they are weak. We enrich their lives by seeing their goodness and rejoicing in it. And we do so in a hidden way. By our gentleness and compassion, our kindness and mercy, we preserve others and help them to grow in God’s abundant grace. And we do so, many times, without them even realizing how God used us.
Consider, also, light. The world in which we live is oftentimes quite dark and despairing. There is corruption all around us and temptations abound. Thus, the light of Christ must be made manifest far and wide. Those all around us need to see clearly the path to holiness and happiness. Again, this is possible if we first work to become light itself. Christ, the true Light of the World, must so permeate our lives that we find it almost automatic to shine brightly in a fallen world. When Christ is alive in us, we will radiate joy and peace, calm and conviction, moral goodness and determination. And when we live this way, we will not have to “impose” the Gospel on others; rather, God’s light will simply shine and be a beacon of hope to those who come into our presence.
Reflect, today, upon these two missions in life. First, ponder your call to holiness. How does God want to bring light into your own life, preserve you from all sin and add spiritual flavor for holy living? Second, who does God want you to love with His love? Who needs hope and joy, mercy and kindness, words of wisdom and encouragement? Be holy and then allow that holiness to shine forth to others and you will indeed be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
My Jesus, the true Light of the World, please shine brightly in my life so that I will see clearly and will be preserved from the darkness of sin. As You fill me with Your light, please use me as an instrument of Your love and mercy to a world filled with chaos and confusion. Dispel the darkness, dear Lord, and use me as Your instrument as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Introductory Prayer: Father of love, the source of all blessings, you have led me throughout my life, and you lead me still. Thank you for your paternal care. Jesus, Son of God, you died for me on the cross to pay for my sins and manifest your unconditional love for me. Thank you for showing me the way home to the Father. Holy Spirit, sweet guest of the soul, you heal me and strengthen me and set me on fire from the most intimate depths of my soul. Thank you for your loving presence within me.
Salt does not exist for itself but to give flavor to food. Without salt, we don't enjoy the taste of our food. It dissolves in the food or soup it is mixed with, and walla! the food tastes great! Therefore salt is very important. Same as light. Without light, we cannot move around because we cannot see anything. So light has a very important mission - to illuminate the world. And why are these elements so important in our world today? Because many people live in darkness, they do not know what they are living for. When something goes wrong in their lives, they don't understand what is happening. Someone must enlighten them. Others' lives are tasteless, meaning they are so bored with the same daily routine, to see the same wife and children every day and so they go about their daily lives like zombies. They need spice in their lives and this is where salt comes in.
Jesus did not come for himself but in order to save man from his sins, his darkness, his boredom, etc. So he offered his life for our salvation and now we live in a world redeemed by his blood. With Jesus guiding us, we can be salt and light to others. In front of trials and sufferings, we do not despair but continue to trust in God. In fact we become stronger in our faith. We are also called to be holy in a world where the mere mention of being pure, chaste, kind, generous, self-giving and austere is often ridiculed. We need to be lights shining brightly for all men to see our good works.
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