8 February, Sunday — A People of Light and Integrity

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isa 58:7-10
1 Cor 2:1-5
Mt 5:13-16

… so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt becomes tasteless, with can make it tasty again?
It is good for nothing
and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
You are the light of the world… (Mt 5:13-14)

What could this cautionary statement from Jesus mean for each of us? As I reflected on these verses, I realised that Jesus did not use the tool of simile to liken you and I to salt. He did not say, “you are like the salt of the earth”, or, “you are like the light of the world”. Matthew specifically recorded Jesus’ words in this manner and its meaning is clear. Jesus used a metaphor — which is a direct and implicit comparison, stating that one thing is another.

That is: you = salt of the earth; you = light of the world.

Hence, if (salt/you) loses (its/your) taste, what can (it/you) be used for? (It/You) is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot… While Jesus is a gentle teacher, he certainly is making himself absolutely clear — double-mindedness and lukewarmness in the faith is unacceptable.

It is sometimes very good to have someone speak plainly and directly to us. In this case, Jesus is not mincing his words for his disciples and all listeners. He had a clear mission and a clear message to convey from God. So, while we may tend to romanticise the person of Christ, who is the Prince of Peace and the very person of God as Love and Emmanuel, we must not water down Jesus’ words about what God wants us to be on earth and in this life.

We are to be salt of the earth; we are to be light of the world. Anything less intentional, anything less purposeful, is to relinquish our God-desired purpose. And God may just cast out the useless salt, because indeed, what use is tasteless salt? It does not fulfil its purpose, and space in the salt vat must be made for actual useful seasoning! It may sound harsh and heartless to some, but as I have come to realise in my life, there will always be some among us who need hard and direct words. Those who pay themselves concessions for their behaviour; fall back on excuses for infidelity; set bad examples with their lives; or hurt loved ones and cause doubt in the hearts of fellow believers, they are the tasteless salt that God will readily cast away! While God is merciful, we need to pay heed to Jesus’ words and not take his grace and forgiveness for granted.

There are some who are easily influenced to follow the personality cults of Christian leaders and the popularity reel of social media, and who rely on human wisdom to soften Jesus’ message to the world. But today, the words of St Paul remind us:

“I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of Spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.”

Let us not make a popular PR campaign out of the precise and powerful words Jesus spoke. Let us not pretend that following Christ is anything but arduous, strenuous and thoroughly challenging — but utterly worthwhile. Let this reality seep into our hearts and homes. Parents are your children’s first taste of God’s love for them. Be the salt and light in their lives too — do not cast darkness and doubt into their minds. For Jesus also had very serious words too, in the gospel of Matthew, for those who harm children. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. (Mt 18:6)

(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)

Prayer: Help us Lord, to accept the yoke of being Christ-followers. Help us to strive to become better versions of ourselves and live up to the higher standard that you call us to. Help me to keep on trying and to climb back up when I do fall, because I trust in your mercy and power.

Thanksgiving: We thank you Lord, for the chance to live a meaningful, purposeful, and upright life. Thank you for the example of the Saints, who never stopped trying to become as holy as you called them to be.