Brothers and Sisters,

If the beatitudes are Jesus’ teaching of what the demeanor of his disciples should be, then the gospel selection we have today is their call to arms. Following right on the tail of the teaching of the beatitudes Jesus teaches his disciples to be salt and light.

Salt was a very necessary staple of life in the southern Mediterranean world. Without it, people could not survive. It not only was used as a food preservative, it also served as a medicine, as a sterilizing agent, and of course in cooking. But what of the curious line about salt losing its flavor that leaves many of us scratching our heads. Can salt ever become “un-salty”? To understand the analogy, I think we need to look at the next analogy that Jesus offers us. That of light.

In a similar way to salt, light is important especially in a world without modern conveniences. In the ancient world, once the night came, without the light of lamps and fires the darkness and all it holds quickly can overtake us. So, Jesus, tells his disciples, let your light shine. Put it on a lampstand for all to see and do not hide it.

Going back to salt, the only way I know for salt to lose its flavor is to dilute it, or let it be corrupted by other substances, hence making it lose the power of its flavor. To me that is akin to hiding your light under a bushel basket. Diluting salt or corrupting it by mixing things in it that make it lose its power, or hiding light from the world, are both Jesus’ call to his disciples to not be overcome by the world, but rather to stand out from it. Be examples of humility, love, mercy, and faith as in the beatitudes and in the end, God will be glorified because the world will see a reflection of God’s love in you.

My niece and her husband live up in Boston, so I rarely get to see them. They have two little girls who are just wonderful and every once in a while, I will get a video clip from my niece of things the girls are doing. At Christmas a year ago, I sent my older grandniece, Ellie, a little microphone, and child’s portable karaoke machine. She loved it and would dress up and sing and dance. She is a total hambone (much like her great uncle). However, this past Summer when we were all together every time we tried to get Ellie to sing for us, she played shy. Where did that little superstar go who sang and danced with such abandon? She feared the spotlight – but the talent was still there.

You and I can be the same way. How many times have we bowed out of the limelight for fear of standing out? We become spiritually shy. Pope Francis spoke about this many times - how we as Christians can become reticent to let our light shine, or we let peer pressure dilute the power of our good works for fear of what others will think or say. That somehow to be seen or known as a follower of Jesus will lead to ridicule. And yet, who loses when we let this happen? Certainly, the world becomes that much darker place when we allow goodness to be overshadowed and let evil win.

Today I invite you to be light for others, regardless, what others think or say. Live the beatitudes as Jesus calls us to.  Be salt that is not diluted! Remember that the greatest form of evangelization is not carrying a sign, but being a sign of faith for others to see. Be light – be salt! Don’t be afraid!

Peace,

Fr. Steve