Being the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Tuesday of 10th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 11, June 7th, 2022

Texts: 1 Kings 17:7-16; Psalm 4:2-4-5.7a.8; Matthew 5:13- 16

Jesus Christ tells us today that to be his disciple is to be the salt of the earth and light of the world. We are salt of the earth when we become hope for people. We are their hope when we assure them by our words and deeds that they are still good men and women in this world.  In spite of how many vile people they might have encountered, we give them hope to continue searching. Thinking that there is no good man or woman in this world makes people hopeless and leads to despair. Meeting us should make them realise that good men or women still exist. When we change the narrative that everyone is corrupt, we are the salt of the earth; where people are immodest in talk and dress, if we are modest, we are the salt of the earth; when we are true where people are fake, we are the salt of the earth; when we spread goodness everywhere, we are salt of the earth; etc.

We are light of the world when we encourage people to follow the right path and to do the right thing by our ways of life and words. When we proclaim the gospel, we show people the right path to follow and the right thing to do. The gospel is the light. When we live by the gospel, we become the light. To be the disciples of Jesus Christ is to be formed and transformed by His words, His gospel.  The gospel is also the salt of the earth. It is salt of the earth because it gives us hope and reason to live. Our faithfulness to the gospel makes us the salt of the earth. When we live by the gospel we become fruitful in virtues and good works.  

Today’s first reading recounts God’s care for His servant, Elijah. In the care of Elijah, God shows how much He cares about those who do His will and  serve Him. By this we are called to abide by the will of God. God used His servant, Elijah, as a blessing to the widow of Zarephath. We also see in the reading how the faith in the word of God lead to salvation. The faith in the words of God makes us to prioritise obedience to God’s word  

Lord God, thanks for being good and loving, grant us the grace to allow ourselves to be formed and transformed by the gospel. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke