5th Sunday
Is 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16
Make a Difference
A man once visited Mother Teresa’s home for the poor and dying in Calcutta. He arrived just as the sisters were bringing in some of the dying from the streets. They had picked up a man from the gutter who was covered with dirt and sores. Without realizing she was being watched, one of the sisters began to care for the dying man. The visitor observed as she tenderly smiled while cleaning and tending to the patient.
The visitor turned to Mother Teresa and said, “When I came here today, I didn’t believe in God, and my heart was full of hate. Now I am leaving here believing in God. I have seen the love of God in action. Through the hands of that sister—through her tenderness and her gestures, so full of love for that wretched man—I have seen God’s love descend upon him. Now I believe.”
We are often inspired by the lives and actions of those who lead by example. Their deeds urge us to strive for excellence. Likewise, our own actions can have a powerful impact on others. True discipleship should inspire others to live better lives.
Salt and Light: The liturgical readings encourage us to live with excellence by embodying the qualities of salt and light. Salt has always been associated with purity, and it was a common ingredient in sacrifices offered to God by both Jews and pagans. As a preservative, salt prevents decay and enhances flavor. In the Book of Job (6:6–7), we read, “Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt?” These qualities of salt are meant to be lived out by Christians.
The actions of Jesus’ disciples are also compared to light. Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world and that our light must shine before others. Light serves several purposes: it guides, it warns (as in red traffic lights that signal danger), and it gives warmth and life. In Scripture, light symbolizes God: “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Ps 27:1); “The Lord will be your everlasting light” (Is 60:19). Jesus proclaimed, “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). When Saul journeyed toward Damascus, Jesus appeared to him as light. Thus, when Jesus says, “Let your light shine before others,” He calls His followers to live as visible witnesses of God’s truth and love.
Belief into Action: Through Baptism, we are called to be both salt and light. A Christian’s conduct should reflect the qualities of salt—enhancing life and preserving it from moral decay. As disciples, we are meant to preserve the world from corruption and bring meaning to “tasteless” situations. If we fail to live this way, we become like salt that has lost its flavor—ineffective and uninspiring.
When Jesus speaks of letting our light shine before others, He does not encourage pride or self-promotion. Rather, He calls us to let our good works serve as a beacon in a dark world. We must not hide our light but let it shine for all to see. Even small, consistent acts of kindness can illuminate the lives of others and make a profound difference.
Get Involved: Christians are called to share in the love and mission of Christ—a mission of self-sacrifice, even in the face of rejection. Our lives should impact others and draw them closer to God. Many have been true “salt of the earth” and “light of the world,” serving as inspirations to countless others. Unfortunately, some have become like spoiled salt, hiding their light out of the belief that religion is merely a private matter between God and oneself. This mindset must change.
Salt and light work by engaging with what they seek to transform. Salt cannot flavor food unless it mixes with it; light cannot reveal the way unless it meets the darkness. Some Christians think the best way to live is to withdraw from the world, but in doing so they may be hiding their lamp under a basket.
St. John Paul II, in his message for World Youth Day 2002, said, “As the salt of the earth, you are called to preserve the faith which you have received and to pass it on intact to others. Your generation is being challenged in a special way to keep safe the Deposit of Faith.” To truly make a difference, we must get involved.
That One! A little girl was walking along a beach covered with thousands of starfish left dying by the receding tide. Hoping to help, she began picking them up one by one and tossing them back into the ocean. A man watching her said, “Little girl, there are hundreds of starfish on this beach. You can’t possibly make a difference.” Discouraged, the girl started to walk away. Then she turned around, picked up another starfish, and tossed it into the sea. Smiling, she said, “I made a difference to that one!”
Let us, too, make a difference to “that one.” It is only by doing something that we can bring change. In the Parable of the Talents, the servant who failed to use what the master gave him lost even what he had. Let us not waste the gifts entrusted to us. Instead, let us make a difference in the lives of those around us and in our parish community. Let us truly be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
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