Matthew 5:13-16

Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3

Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

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. Light of the Word: If Jesus’ disciples live the beatitudes, then they will not only be the salt of the earth, but will also be the light of the world. This echoes the original vocation of Israel to be a light to the Gentile nations (Isaiah 42 and 49). The images of salt, light, and the city set on the mountain all refer to the Temple in Jerusalem. Salt seasoned the sacrifices in the Temple, the seven lamps of the menorah lit the sanctuary, and Jerusalem is the city set on Mt. Zion. Like the salt sent out into the world from Galilee, 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 bring the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth and overcome the darkness and ignorance caused by sin.

3. The Son of Consolation: The First Reading was chosen for the Memorial of Saint Barnabas. His real name was Joseph and “Barnabas” was his nickname (Acts 4:36). He was from the tribe of Levi and was a native of Cyprus. His nickname, given to him by the Apostles, means “son of encouragement (or consolation or comfort).” The Greek word used to translate the Aramaic is “paraklesis,” which is related to “paraclete.” This latter is a title for the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26) and means advocate, consoler, intercessor, and counselor. Barnabas “will live up to the meaning of his name when he encourages the Jerusalem Christians to welcome their former persecutor, Paul (Acts 9:26-27), and later, when he enlists Paul to help him nurture the first community comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, in Antioch (11:22-26)” (Kurz, Acts of the Apostles, 92). Barnabas and Paul brought a famine relief collection from Antioch to the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:30). They were also commissioned by the Church in Antioch to go on their first missionary journey throughout southern Asia Minor. They worked together up to the Council in Jerusalem in A.D. 49. After the council, they went on separate missionary journeys due to a disagreement about taking John Mark with them. Paul took Silas on his second missionary journey and Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus. Little is known about Barnabas after this, but tradition holds that he was martyred in Salamis in Cyprus.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I pray that I may be salt and light. Help me to give flavor to my preaching of your Gospel and enlighten the minds of those around me with your light. 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?