Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(02/08/2026) Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

“You Are the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World”

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

From the desk of Fr. Leo

     Ancient Babylon was in modern day Iraq, with its capital on the Euphrates River., less than 100 miles south of Baghdad. When the Babylonians conquered the Jews in 587 BC, they took most of the Jews off to Babylon as prisoners and slaves. This event, known as the Babylonian exile lasted 50 years. When the Persian people who lived in modern day Iran, conquered  the Babylonians, the Persians allowed the Jews to return home. Most of those Jews who returned to Israel were the grandchildren of the ones who  were taken into exile. When  they got home to Israel, they found their cities and farms in the same deplorable state in which they had left them when they were originally conquered 50 years earlier. They had to rebuild every thing, their farms, their homes, their businesses, their cities, their temple. And here is where our First Reading comes in this weekend.. Their efforts to survive created deep division in the  community. It is a survival of the fittest, and the poor and homeless were ignored. God is telling them that their selfish, self centered, “every man for himself” attitude was not going to be  successful. If they wanted  to grow and thrive, they had to start caring about each other. Justice, fairness, honesty and kindness would bring light into their darkness. Selfishness would bring continued suffering.

     The words of the prophet Isaiah are as true now as they were 2500 years ago. We can make our world beautiful by the way  we treat  each other or we can make it a very unpleasant place to be. If everyone's only concern is about themselves, the  survival of the fittest, few will survive and not very happily. If  we work together, we will do more than survive,  we will thrive. As Benjamin Franklin said at the signing of the declaration of Independence: “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” And Jesus, as He continues  the Sermon on the Mount, tells us “you can do it.”: “You are the salt of the earth, the the light of the world.” When we think of salt, we think of how it makes our food taste better, but we better not eat too much of it. It's a pretty cheap item in our world today, but at the time of Jesus it was a very valuable commodity. So valuable in fact that the word “salary” comes from the Latin word for  salt: “sal.” In those days it not only made food more tasty, but it was used very much like we use refrigeration today” as preservative. There is no need to emphasize the importance of light on our world today as well as at the time of Jesus. Don't forget Jesus was talking to a large group  of people, not just His picked Apostles. He was talking to fishermen, farmers, housewives, merchants, carpenters and stone masons, old people and young. He told them: “You are the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world.” God has given us the ability to bring light and joy to others in simple ways as well as in major ways.

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Meditation: Jesus used ordinary images, such as salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths that transform our minds, hearts, and lives. What does salt and light have to teach us about God and the transforming power of his kingdom? Salt was a valuable commodity in the ancient world. People traded with it, like we trade with valuable goods, such as gold and stock. Salt also served a very useful purpose, especially in warmer climates before the invention of electricity and refrigeration. Salt not only gave rich flavor to food, it also preserved food from going bad and being spoiled.

The salt of God's kingdom for all
Jesus used the image of salt to describe the transforming effect of God's work in our lives - and how the Holy Spirit wants to work through us to bring the power and blessing of God's kingdom to others. As salt purifies, preserves, and produces rich flavor for our daily food, we, too, as disciples of Jesus, are "salt" for the world of human society. The Lord wants to work in and through us to purify, preserve, and spread the rich flavor of God's kingdom everywhere - his "kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

Don't lose your saltiness
What did Jesus mean by the expression "if salt has lost its taste... it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot" (Matthew 5:13)? Salt in the ancient world was often put into ovens to intensify the heat. When the salt was burned off and no longer useful it was thrown out on the ground where it would easily get stepped on and swept away (Matthew 5:13). How can we lose our "saltiness"? When we allow the world, sin, and Satan to corrupt us. The Lord wants us to preserve our "saltiness" - through virtuous living and rejection of sin - not only for our own sake but also for the sake of others.

The aroma of Christ in the world
Paul the Apostle reminds us that we are called to be "the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life" (2 Corinthians 2:15-16 ). Do you allow the fragrance of Christ's love, truth, and holiness to permeate every area of your life, your thoughts, words, actions, and relationships?

Light that shines for all to see
Jesus used the image of light and a lamp to further his illustration of God's transforming work in and through us. Lamps in the ancient world served a vital function, much like they do today. They enable people to see and work in the dark and to avoid stumbling. The Jews also understood "light" as symbol or expression of the inner beauty, truth, and goodness of God. In his light we see light ( Psalm 36:9). His word is a lamp that guides our steps (Psalm 119:105). God's grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace.

Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom. Our mission is to be light-bearers of Jesus Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.

There is great freedom and joy for those who live in the light of God's truth and goodness. Do you know the joy and freedom of living in God's light?

Lord Jesus, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed

read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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