The Similes of Salt and Light

Today's Reflections

The Similes of Salt and Light

Mt 5:13-16

[Jesus said to his disciples,] ¹³“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. ¹⁴You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Reflection:
 

You are the salt of the earth. Jesus calls the disciples the salt of the earth. Why salt? In olden times, salt was a very important commodity. Salt is sal in Latin and sale in Italian. Via Salaria is the salt field of Ostia and Sabina districts of Italy. This was also a salt route that went as far as Salzburg, Austria, where the final trading of salt was made. Salzburg means city of salt. Salt in the form of layers of cake was used as money in Rome, Tibet, and in Abyssinia. And the word salary is derived from the Latin sal.

Salt is a needed commodity because it gives flavor to food and serves as seasoning. It also functions as a preservative, keeping food from decay.

In Scriptures, salt (as seawater dried up) is noted for its whiteness. It symbolizes purity. This is why salt is used for exorcism (cf 2 Kgs 2:21-22). Salt is also used for purification in the temple (cf Lv 2:13).

When Jesus tells us that we, disciples, are salt of the earth, it means that we are meant to give flavor to the world and meaning to people’s lives. As salt, we are to give people consolation rather than desolation, inspiration rather than frustration, comfort rather than burden. As salt that preserves, we are challenged to be antidotes against moral decay, moral corruption, and social indifference. As salt symbolizes purity, we must be examples of purity to others in words and in actions. As salt was used for temple purification, in our relationship with God and in our sacramental functions we must have pure intentions, pure thoughts, and pure actions.

“You are the salt of the earth.”Does this picture of Jesus’ true disciple describe you now?