Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:

“You are the salt of the earth.

But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?

It is no longer good for anything

but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world.

A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;

it is set on a lampstand,

where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others,

that they may see your good deeds

and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I listen to your Son’s Sermon on the Mount, I pray that the seed of his Word may find good soil to grow and flourish. Help me welcome your Word, die to myself, and bear fruit for your Kingdom.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Salt of the Earth: After announcing to his disciples the paths that lead to happiness and blessing in the New Covenant, Jesus speaks about his disciples’ calling and mission. If the disciples live the beatitudes, they will be the salt of the earth. What does this mean? In the ancient world, salt was used not only to season but also to preserve food. The fish from the Sea of Galilee, for example, were dried and salted in Magdala and could be transported to faraway places like Rome without spoiling. By calling his disciples the “salt of the earth,” Jesus indicates that his disciples are to season and add flavor to the world and preserve the peace of the New Covenant on the earth. One day, like the salted fish from Magdala, Jesus’ disciples will be sent from Jerusalem and Galilee to the ends of the earth with the Gospel of Salvation. If they lose their saltiness, however, they will be worthless and unable to extend the Gospel throughout the world. There is also a deeper meaning concerning salt. Salt was also used to season the grain or bread offerings in the Temple (Leviticus 2:13). The salt, added to the offering, signified the covenant meal between God and the offeror. As the salt of the earth, Jesus’ disciples are to be the salt that seasons the world so that the world can be offered to God as a pleasing sacrifice. If, however, they break the covenant and lose their saltiness, then Jesus’ disciples will be unable to sanctify the world and bring it to God as an offering in the New Covenant (see Pitre, Reflections on the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A).

2. City-Light of the World: Matthew loves to organize things in the Sermon on the Mount into triads. The nine beatitudes, as we saw yesterday, can be grouped into three sets of three. The first three emphasize humility (poor in spirit, mourning, and meekness). The second set of three emphasizes justice and righteousness. The last set of three advocates for peace. In today’s passage from the Sermon on the Mount, the first image of being the salt of the earth is followed by the image of being the light of the world. And this second image becomes two images. First, we need to be like light that shines out from a city set on a mountain. The image points especially to the city of Jerusalem, set on Mt. Zion. While the countryside surrounding Jerusalem would be dark at night, the lights from the city could be seen from afar. The prophets foretold that one day, the law or instruction (torah) and the word of the Lord would stream forth into the world from Mt. Zion (see Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2). The disciples of Jesus are to carry the light of God’s Word to all the nations. This mission echoes Israel’s original vocation to be a light to the Gentile nations (Isaiah 42 and 49).

3. Lamp-Light in the Household of God: If Jesus’ disciples live the beatitudes, then they will not only be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, but they will also give light to the household of God in the Church. The images of salt, light from a city set on a mountain, and lamp-light all refer to the Temple in Jerusalem. Salt seasoned the sacrifices in the Temple, Jerusalem is the city set on Mt. Zion, and the seven lamps of the menorah lit the sanctuary. Just as salt was sent out into the world from Galilee, so olive oil, used in lamps, was also sent out into the world from Galilee. Jesus’ disciples will season the world and transform it into a pleasing sacrifice. They will teach the world with wisdom from Mt. Zion. They will bring the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth and overcome the darkness and ignorance caused by sin. They will be a light through their words and good deeds for their brothers and sisters in the Church.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I pray that I may be salt of the earth, light of the world, and light in your household. Help me to give flavor to my preaching of your Gospel, to enlighten the minds of those around me with your light, and to be an example for my brothers and sisters. May I never lose my saltiness or extinguish the flame of your love.

Living the Word of God: How am I seasoning the world around me? Am I preserving the peace of the New Covenant and bringing it into the world around me? Have I lost my saltiness? Am I foolish, boring, dull, and tasteless in my proclamation of the Gospel?