We are Salt of the Earth! We are Light of the World!

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A

Masa Nakata, MA, MAPS

This is how we have been in Ordinary Time so far in regard to Sunday Gospel reading themes…

• The 2nd Sunday (Jn 1:29-34): John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

• The 3rd Sunday (Mt 4:12-23): Jesus began his public ministry and called the first batch of his disciples and identifies the nature of the mission as serving him as “fishers of men”.

• The 4th Sunday (Mt 5:1-12a): Jesus’ teaching on the Beatitudes. What it means to be blessed (in contrast to what the world tells us about “happiness”).

• The 5th Sunday (Mt 5:13-16): Jesus calls us as salt of the earth and light of the world.

There is a shift in theme from the 2nd to the 3rd Sunday on:

The 2nd Sunday: who Jesus is – Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi (the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world).Then, from the 3 rd Sunday on the focus is on us: who we are.

We are: Fishers of Men - 3 rd SundayBlessed by God - 4 th SundaySalt of the Earth and Light of the Word- 5 th Sunday

First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10

What it means to be light of the (dark) world. According to Isaiah’s post-exilic prophecy, being light of the world means:

A: sharing our bread with the hungry (v7)B: bringing the afflicted and the homeless into our houses(v7)C: clothing the naked when we see them,and not turning our back on our own flesh (v7)D: satisfying the afflicted by pouring ourselves to solve the hunger of the world (v 10)

First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10

Basically, our practice of works of mercy (i.e. Matt 25:31-46) makes us light of the world. In fact, the God-given light inside of us begins to break forth to lighten the dark world, bringing healing and vindication – putting mercy and justice together, while the glory of God guards this.

“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”(Is 58:8).As we shine as light of the world through our works of mercy, we are also healed ourselves as our gloom gives its way to midday-like brightness.

“Then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom shall become like midday”(Is 58:10).According to Jesus’ teaching of the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-12), this is a way to live a life of the Beatitudes, because he said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”(Mt.5:7).

Therefore, we become light of the word through our works of mercy, and God will show His mercy on us all.

For this, we must humbly ask God’s help (Is 58:9), as we cannot do everything by ourselves.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Mt 5:3), “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness”(Mt5:6).

There is a mercy-light juxtaposition, as well as giving mercy to others and receiving mercy.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Note: There is a juxtaposition between the “just man” (for the responsorial Psalm) and “God” (in the original Ps 112 text)

“The just man (like God) is a light in darkness to the upright”.

“The just man” - channun/ ן /rachum & (grancious) חנוman (v.4) (compassionnate) רחום

Like God, he compassionate person is a light in darkness to upright!

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

His (the just man’s) heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.Lavishly he gives to the poor; His justice shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory. (responsorial Psalm, modified Ps 112)

Wealth and riches are in His (God’s) house, And His righteousness (tsedaqah/צדקה)endures forever (Ps 112:3).

They (the righteous) have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever (Ps 112:9).

Cf. “For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness (checed/) חחסד is everlasting, and His faithfulness (emunah/אמונה,) to all generations” (Ps 100:5).

Cf. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting”(1 Chronicles 16:34; Ps 136:1).

To be light of the word, as God is light (1 Jn 1:5), we shall strive to be as merciful as God is, in our works of mercy!

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

Paul says, in proclaiming the mystery of God (v1) to the Corinthians, “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” (vv4-5).

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When we go on our mission (as fishers of men) and to serve as salt of the earth and light of the world, in proclaiming and demonstrating the mystery of God, in words and deeds of mercy, we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit!

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

This Gospel narrative on salt and light follows the narrative of the Beatitudes and is followed by the teaching about the law in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Now, Jesus is calling us to serve as salt of the earth and light of the word.

What does it mean to be salt of the earth and light of the world?

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Salt of the Earth:

Salt – enhances flavors, preserves

As we become and serve as salt of the earth to others, we encounter others to put forth their inherent goodness and prompt them to cultivate their God-bestowed gifts of the Holy Spirit – as enhancers of goodness and graces. At the same time, we defend and preserve the goodness and dignity of ours and the earth/world, as salt preserves food. We are good steward of God’s Creation, as Pope Francis reminds us in his “Laudato Si”.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Light of the World:

The first reading (Is 58:7-10) indicates that being light to the world means practicing the works of mercy as Jesus said in Mt 25:31-46, as to replicate the mercifulness of God, as reflected in responsorial Psalm’s juxtaposition to Ps 112 original text, paralleling our mercifulness and God’s mercifulness.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Being reminded in vv. 14-16 remind, as disciples of Christ, who is the light to the world (Jn 8:12), we shall not hide our apostolic and mission identity as salt and light. Why? So that people can recognize us in their search for healing, enlightenment, meaning, hope – leading to salvation.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn (Is 58:8).

Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father (for this reason, your light shall not be hidden) (Mt 5:16).

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus – the light to the world (from Heaven) (Jn 8:12)

Us – the light of the world (Mt 5:14).

As reflected in the first reading (Is 58:7-10) and its responsorial Psalm (Ps 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9), there is a juxtaposition between Christ and us.

Summing Up

We are called not only to serve as fishers of men but also as salt and light, paralleling Jesus the light , God the light. As salt, we preserve all the goodness and gifts that God has put in His Creation and in us. As light, we heal the wounded world with our mercy, as we are also healed by God’s mercy. We, as the Church, shall function as the medicine of mercy (as said by St. John XXIII and further encouraged by Pope Francis). In striving to be so, we must make sure that we are filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, as Paul reminds us in the second reading.