Entrusted with a Mission

HOMILY: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 5:13-16

5 February 2023

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Does someone believe in you? Is it important that others have confidence in your abilities? Sometimes others see our potential and help us discover it. The world-renowned author Stephen King, who published over 65 novels, most of which were turned into movies, may not have succeeded if his wife did not have faith in him! The first one he wrote was rejected 30 times so he threw it away. But his wife had strong confidence in his ability so he persuaded him to persevere. He was able to publish “Carrie” that has sold more than four million copies! It was turned into four movies and a broadway musical. When Stephen King was struggling, he never imagined the impact his novel would make in the world.

Why are we talking about this? It is because our gospel is proof that God also has full confidence in us. Jesus believes that we have the potential to make a huge difference in the world His Father created. The gospel tells us that we are to be like salt and light. No one said, “this only applies to those who are good, or to the intelligent, or to the religious.” What is being referred to here speaks of all of us who recognise and accept Christ. We all have the potential to affect the world in a positive manner. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus uses two metaphors to characterise the essence of discipleship: salt and light. Both metaphors help us understand that our faith finds deepest expression in relation to others. As Pope Francis once said: “Both salt and light are for others, not for oneself: salt does not give flavour to itself; light does not illuminate itself”. Can we eat salt by itself? Salt is bitter when eaten on its own and becomes useful only when used as a flavour enhancer or meat preservative. In the same way our faith is bland when it is not lived out in relation to others! Just as light is not placed under a bushel basket but rather on a pedestal, our faith can only become significant when it serves as light to the darkness of other people’s lives. Just as the light of a city on a high hill becomes the traveler’s guide in a dark night. Our Christian discipleship then is meant to lead us out of ourselves to serve others and continue the saving work of Jesus. The metaphors of salt and light help us understand that our faith finds deepest expression in relation to others. We are salt meant to enhance others; we are light meant to shine for others!

How can we be salt and light? This is answered in our second reading. St. Paul says that “our message and proclamation are not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power…”  It is not through persuasive speech and wisdom that we can reveal the good news but through our actions driven by the Holy Spirit and power from God on high. To become salt and light for the world does not require us to be such great public speakers like Nelson Mandela or John F. Kennedy. The most effective proclamation of the Gospel is the witness of our lives. As Ralph Waldo Emerson was attributed to have said: “Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear what you are saying.” 

In the first reading, we heard some concrete examples of good works by which we can make our light shine for others. Good works such as sharing bread/ food with the hungry, sheltering the homeless and oppressed, and clothing the naked, allow us to become the light shining forth God’s presence and salvation to the world. Let us not turn our backs on our neighbours and let us remove oppression from our midst, false accusations and gossiping from our lives. If we do this, God’s glory will always be behind us, protecting and supporting us and whenever we call on God for help, He will answer us. 

What does it mean to be salt and light these days? Being salt for the earth and light for the world can be as simple as teaching our children the Christian way of life by word, and especially by example. How can we teach our children to be respectful if we ourselves are disrespectful when talking to elders, those in authority or people we consider below our status in life? How can we encourage our children to pray and go to church if we ourselves forget and would rather spend time on other things? We need to practice honesty and responsibility in fulfilling our tasks! We have to show moderation by not being wasteful. If we go to a buffet restaurant, let us not take more than we can eat and let us not wrap up the food right away before everyone has eaten! (Kung pupunta sa buffet o sa mga kainan, huwag kukuha ng susobra sa iyong makakain at huwag magbabalot agad ng handa habang di pa lahat nakakakain!) These are only some of the ways we can prove to be true disciples of Christ!

As we conclude, I just want to reiterate that the work and responsibility of being salt and light has been given to all of us. We all have the potential to be good examples to our neighbours, especially to the youth. Aren’t we amazed at how much trust Jesus has in each one if us? Let us not think that we cannot do this or that this work is only for the religious, priests or nuns or for the hardworking, intelligent and talented. The moment we were baptised we signified it that we wish to belong to Him and in turn we are entrusted with a mission to be a light shining in the world and salt that seasons the world with the flavour of the gospel. Yes, we are not perfect and we always stumble and make mistakes but we never lose our potential to do good. Christ has more trust in us than we may have in ourselves. Never lose hope.  Let us trust in His power to transform us. Trust in His power to lead us and to accomplish great things for His glory.