THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Tuesday of Tenth week in Ordinary Time, 2021

2Cor 1:18-22

Ps 119

Matt 5:13-16

Salt and Light

Dear friends in Christ, except in a situation of some illness, most people add salt according to taste in their meals. Salt is also used as a preservative. Light is very important as well, only a well trained person, particularly the blind, with the use of the white cane, can navigate through darkness without any form of light. Salt and light are therefore very useful and important to most people; but both in the right proportion. Too much of any, brings negative result.

In the gospel passage of today (Matthew 5:13-16) Jesus says to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt had lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?” The quantity of salt that is added to a meal, can change everything, it can make or mar the meal. But imagine that you pour salt into your meal and it does not change the taste, that the salt has lost its saltines, what else can it be used for, than thrown away and trampled. Here is a warning from the Lord, that his followers must be ready to lay down good examples for others to emulate. The Christian must add taste and value to the lives of those around him. In the same vein, the Lord said,  “You are the light of the world, a city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.” Light makes us see reality clearly and gives a sense of security just the way darkness begets fear and uncertainty. We light up our homes, environments and cities in order not to give room to those who hide under the cover of darkness to do evil. A christian is called upon to light up his world and give no room for evil or expose evil by not harbouring it.

Our first reading (2 Corinthians 1:18-22), Paul defends himself as a dependable Apostle who can be relied upon and whose word is his bond which he also recommends to all. Paul had promised a visit to Corinth and had to change his plans something that prompted the Judaisers to accuse him of being fickle-minded. Paul used the opportunity of this letter to clear the air on that accusation saying, “As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” This in a way echoes the teaching of Jesus, “Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No.” A Christian is expected to  be firm and upright. This ties also into the teaching of Jesus in today’s Gospel. Called to be salt and light, a Christian who fails in these two qualities knows within himself that he is not a true follower of Christ. Are you?

Let us pray: Lord, help us to light up the world by our good deeds, to add taste to the earth by following your example and to give without stint just as you gave your life for our sake. Amen. 

+Remain blessed