There is an ancient fairy tale about a king with several daughters who asks each of them how much they love him. The youngest daughter answers that she loves him as much as salt because salt is indispensable. The king is insulted by her answer because salt is the “cheapest and commonest thing that comes to table” and everyone, even poor people have salt. He decides that she does not love him enough and so he banishes her from his kingdom. Later, when she has become the queen of another country (this is a fairy tale); she has the opportunity to host her father at a banquet. She serves her father a meal prepared without any salt which he cannot eat. She then confronts him with his cruelty and he begs her forgiveness because he now recognizes the value of salt. And they all lived happily ever after. By the way, this story is one of the inspirations for Shakespeare’s play, King Lear, which does not have such a happy ending.
Today’s gospel, Matthew 5:13-16, encourages us to look beyond the superficiality of our secular world, and be salt of the earth and light of the world. How ordinary! Salt is so common and yet so essential. Today, as in the time of Jesus salt is used for flavoring, preserving and healing. Our Christianity should flavor our lives and the lives of those around us like salt flavors food.
We take light for granted. The sun rises and sets without any effort on our part. And when we need more light we simply flick a switch and light happens. However, this isn’t the kind of light Jesus is talking about. In John 9:5 Jesus tells us that he is “the light of the world.” We cannot simply ignite our own light at will like flicking a light switch. Our light must shine from within. Our light should radiate the light of Christ working in our lives.
In today’s first reading, Isaiah 58:7-10, the prophet tells us how to become salt and light for our world. “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.” This is a huge challenge. Let our prayer today ask Jesus to kindle His light in us so that our light will rise in the darkness.
O God of justice,
you have called your Church
to be the salt of the earth
and the light for the world.
Let the light of your own justice
shine in our lives,
so that we can do good works
and give you praise and glory.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
AMEN.
