FIFTH
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Isaiah 58:7–10; 1 Corinthians 2:1–5; Matthew 5:13–16)
As last
Sunday, today’s Gospel is taken from the Sermon on the Mount. The disciples
have drawn near to Jesus to listen to his teaching. He began by proclaiming
“blessed” those who live the righteousness of God. In the passage we hear
today, Jesus uses two images to describe the role of his disciples in the
world.
But who are
the disciples of Jesus? Some may think they are only the Twelve Apostles. That
cannot be the case, however, because besides Simon Peter and his companions,
the Gospel speaks of a relatively large number of followers. It was from among
them that Jesus chose his inner circle of confidants. The word “disciple” comes
from the Latin discipulus, meaning “learner” or “student.” Pope Francis
has called all Christians “missionary disciples.” This was not merely a pious compliment,
but a concrete call addressed to the baptized. Rather than simply praying in
the pews, all Christians are called to learn about Christ so that they may
speak about him to others.
There is a
Protestant community that calls itself “the Disciples of Christ.” They see
themselves as the vanguard of a movement to unify a fragmented world. Their
spirit as well as their name would have certainly pleased the former pope. Unfortunately, their beliefs and discipline
do not totally conform to the Catholic tradition.
First, Jesus
calls his disciples “the salt of the earth.” Salt has many uses, from
preserving fish to melting ice. It is not only useful, but also inexpensive.
Mahatma Gandhi, the Hindu leader, called salt “the condiment of the poor.” Probably
Jesus has this use in mind when he declares that his disciples are like salt.
Salt adheres
to starches, vegetables and meats to enhance their flavors. In a similar way,
Christians are called to improve society. The Letter to Diognetus is a
second-century document written to defend Christian customs against their many
critics. It says: “(Christians) marry like everyone else and beget children,
but they do not abandon the children they conceive. They share the table, but
not the bed.” Over time, the Christian practices of rejecting abortion and
reserving sexual intimacy for marriage were adopted by most nations.
In recent
times, however, we have witnessed an erosion of these values. We have seen the
acceptance of sexual promiscuity and abortion even among some Christian groups.
One could say that “the salt has lost its taste.” Instead of showing the world
virtue, these Christians have adopted worldly vices.
Even more
common and beneficial than salt is light. Light makes it possible to transform
water and carbon dioxide into food through photosynthesis, a process that also
releases oxygen into the atmosphere. Without food to eat or oxygen to breathe,
neither human life nor nearly any other form of life could exist.
We, as
disciples of Christ, act as light when we share Christ’s teachings with the
world. They serve as a guide that illuminates the path to peace. This is done
more by example than by words, though both forms of instruction are necessary.
In this same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches: “Therefore, if you bring your
gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your
brother, and then come and offer your gift” (5:23–24). When enemies are reconciled, a society
becomes more united and more just.
Jesus exhorts
us to let our light shine like “a city set on a hill.” What good is a light on
a hill if it does not guide the traveler home? We, the disciples of Christ, are
in the world to help everyone reach their true home with the Lord. Sadly, not
everyone acts as if they want to arrive there. That does not matter. According
to Jesus, we are here to illuminate the way to that home for all.
