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5 February 2017: Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical color: Green)

Gospel: Please read  Matthew 5:13-16

To be salt and light for others!

 These are indeed challenging times in the Philippines, when legitimate dissent and criticism of public governance and controversies are being stifled with threat and intimidation, and even insults. And they come from the highest echelon of government.

Even the Catholic Church and its leaders are not spared, or even singled out when it stands up to protect human life and dignity. They are verbally abused and ridiculed. Should the Church keep silent and cower in fear?

The Gospel message this Sunday encourages us how to deal with

the situation. The evangelist Matthew shares with us this more famous discourse of Jesus on discipleship. By using images of daily life, with simple and direct words, Jesus makes known which is the mission and the reason for being the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, even in our challenging times. In the Gospel narrative, Jesus used ordinary images of His time, like salt and light, to convey extraordinary truths.

What does salt and light have to teach us about God and His kingdom here on earth? Let us reflect on them.

History books tell us that in the ancient world salt was considered a commodity of value. People traded with it very much like we trade gold and stocks in our present time. But apart from its commercial value, salt more importantly has its intrinsic worth of giving flavor to food and preserving it from spoiling, especially in hot climate, before the invention of electricity and refrigeration.

Jesus used the example of salt to show His disciples how they were to live in the world. Meaning, as salt purifies and penetrates, so His disciples must be like salt in the world of human society to purify, preserve and penetrate that society for the kingdom of God and of righteousness and peace. As salt of the earth we must preserve our society  from getting spoiled by the corruption of sin.

How does the image of light and lamp be an inspiration for the disciples?

The comparison is obvious. Nobody lights a candle and just hides it.

Before the wonder of electricity, lamps in ancient world served a vital function by making it possible for people to see and work in the dark. Even to this day lamps continue to provide that purpose in our rural areas that have yet to be benefit from electricity.

A Christian community should be light and it should enlighten. It should not be afraid to show the good that it does. But it does not do it to make itself seen, but what it does can be seen.

Our Lord used the example of lamp to describe how the disciples are to live in the light of His truth and love. Just as natural light illuminates the darkness and enables us 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 even now in our earthly journey.

In sum, the salt does not exist for itself, nor the light exist for itself. This is how a Christian community should be. It cannot remain enclosed in itself.

Let us, therefore, pray: that we remain unafraid to proclaim God's kingdom here on earth; that we become like salt that preserves and purifies our society from moral decay; that we are strengthened in our mission to be witnesses of Jesus who is the light of the world.

In the words of our Lord: "Your light must shine in people's sight, so that seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in Heaven." Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all. and thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!