“You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth.” These are the words of Jesus which we find in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:13-14). We may not mind being described as light, but I am not so sure about salt! Light penetrates the darkness and enables us to see; it gives warmth to the earth and is a source of energy and growth. Salt is a preservative and a cleanser; it seasons and flavours food. It might not be good for our cholesterol, but it certainly makes what we eat more tasty and enjoyable.
Jesus compares his followers to light and salt. Christians are meant to be a leaven in society, a force for good, a positive influence, an effective and enriching presence. But how do we do this? By fighting poverty, by working for justice, by acting with honesty and integrity, by showing kindness. These are the ways the light of Christ shines in the world; these are the ways God’s presence in the world is made tangible.
The Christophers have a saying, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” There is no doubting the fact that there are many sources of darkness in our world. These include poverty, injustice, inequality, discrimination, conflict, violence and war. Our news bulletins are a constant reminder of this darkness. In response, we can either allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the darkness and give up or we can choose to do something, however small and insignificant, to overcome it. We can light a candle. We can try to practice the values of Jesus in our daily lives. We must never underestimate the contribution that each one of us can make to the building of God’s Kingdom of justice, peace and compassion in the world.
And if we think we must rely on our own power and strength to be light and salt to the world, think again! Let’s listen to St Paul describe his own experience: “Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great fear and trembling and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God” (1Cor 2: 3-5). In our efforts to make the world a better place we have the power of God with us and within us at all times. So let’s claim this power; let’s take possession of it. If we do, we will be light to the world and salt to the earth.