5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
Reading 1: Isaiah 58:7-10, Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112, Reading 2: 1 Cor 2:1-5, Gospel: Mt 5:13-16
The gospel reading is a continuation of Jesus’ sermon on the mountain. Jesus addresses his disciples directly saying, “you are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world”.
Prior to the sermon on the mountain, one thing is abundantly clear about the nature of discipleship. Discipleship requires that the Christian “be” with the Lord. In another part of Scripture, Jesus calls the twelve so that they may be with him (Cf. Mark 3:14). It is about being with Jesus and knowing him. Being with Jesus gives the disciple an opportunity to listen to the Master. The voice from heaven is thus helpful here: This is my son, the beloved, listen to him.
Pope Benedict XVI taught us some 20 years ago in this regard. “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction”. Thus, being with Jesus merits one to be called “salt of the earth…light of the world”.
Salt was, for the ancients as it is also for contemporary man, a valuable resource. It was important for seasoning food, as today, for its healing properties as well as acting as a preservative. Jesus ascribes these qualities to his disciples. He means them to be a people that make life more bearable and liveable, healers and people who cannot be associated with anything rotten or even dead matter. Those who follow him, therefore, acquire the same qualities as the Master who was known to be a healer. They participate in his life-giving mission.
The healing aspect is particularly important as the Church prepares herself to celebrate the World Day of the Sick in the coming week, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on 11 February. Christians carry the vocation and the gift, in themselves, to be healers.
The second image of light is well known in Sacred Scripture. The light is God’s first act of creation. “And God said, ‘let there be light’ and there was light” (Gen 1:3). Thus, calling a disciple light gives him/her a further honour and primacy in the order of creation. The people of God followed the light in the night as they made for the Sea of Reeds during the Exodus. “By day, the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they may travel by day or night” (Ex. 13:21). In the gospel of John, Jesus says “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). It is this same light that came down upon the disciples in the descent of the Holy Spirit (Cf. Acts 2:1-4).
No doubt, when Jesus calls the disciples, the light of the world, it should evoke all the biblical events just mentioned. The light is no longer what we see out there, but something that we have become as disciples. Even more, there is an important allusion to baptism here where we receive the lit candle from the Easter Candle. In the Rite of Baptism we hear the words, “receive the light of Christ”. Indeed, we are a people of the light. Jesus himself has deemed us worthy be the light of the world.
The disciple is called upon to be the light, not so much for himself, but so that others may benefit from his light. The light is put on a lampstand so that it may be of benefit to all persons in the house. Thus, being a good disciple has an ethical and social dimension. It leads to good works. “Let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who is in heaven”.
Today, there is an urgent need for the disciples who give witness to their faith by doing good works. This is an integral part of evangelisation. Both Popes Benedict XVI and Francis taught us that evangelisation happens through attraction. It is the life of the Christian that attracts others to Christ and his Church.
To conclude, let us take to heart the words of the prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading and act upon them. “Break bread with the hungry and lead the destitute and the homeless into your house. When you see someone naked, cover him, and do not despise your own flesh”.