Deacon Cu Than

PUT A LITTLE SPICE IN YOUR LIFE!

Isaiah 58:7-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16

Most of the time we are using social and other labels to identify ourselves. When we were born, our parents gave us a name. We have used that name to identify ourselves so that others could recognize who we are. We identify ourselves with our names, with our occupations and professions. We identify ourselves with the school we attend, with the company we are working with, or with the organization we belong to. All these are the social and functional labels that others or we have attached on us. They are all superficial and not satisfying answers to the question, “Who are you?” But it seems that we are dependent on these labels. We use these labels to define ourselves. We would feel insecure if we do not have any of these social and functional labels to define ourselves.

Jesus gives us another way to define ourselves. He says,

“You are the salt of the earth.”  & “You are the light of the world.”

 He doesn’t say, “You should be salt and light.”   So what does all that mean and how does it affect us today?  We are salt and light by the very fact that we follow Jesus.  By our baptism and as members of this community, this  church, we are salt and light. 

Salt can make things tasty. It is used to preserve food.  Salt keeps it from spoiling, rotting, corrupting.  Salt even purified.   In Old Testament times they used salt to season every sacrifice.  “With all your offerings,” God told the people through Moses, “You shall offer salt.”  (Lev. 2:13) 

Light helps us to see. Without light we cannot see. Without light, our vision will be blocked. We could not see you when the sun went down.  Much of life would have stopped at dusk.  So the light makes life more pleasant, more enjoyable. 

Light is to our vision is what Christians are to people in the world. Christians are the light of the world. Christian faith gives vision to people in the world. Our Christian faith is like a lamp setting on a stand to give light to everyone in the house. Our Christian faith is like the city sets on a mountain cannot be hidden. We are the lamps to give light to all people in the world. Our Christian light must shine before others that they may see our good deeds and glorify our God. Being Christians mean that others, by observing the way we live our lives, may find the meaning and the direction for their own lives.

Jesus is telling  us we are salt and light. He is saying we should make our world a little better.  We should help enlighten the world around us.  Bring light to darkness, help to dispel the gloom.  Where there is sadness bring joy.  We are salt and light,  the world we live in should be a better, happier place because of us.  Isaiah the Prophet talks of light as well.  He says in our first reading, “Your light shall break forth like the dawn and your wound shall quickly be healed.” 

Isaiah also shows us how to be the light. “Share your bread with the hungry. Shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them... If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness.”

A woman in a coma was dying. She suddenly had a feeling that she was taken up to heaven and stood before the judgment seat.

“Who are you?” a voice said to her.
“I’m the wife of the mayor,” she replied.
“I did not ask whose wife you are but who you are.”
“I am the mother of four children.”
“I did not ask whose mother you are, but who you are.”
“I am a school teacher.”
“I did not ask what your profession is but who you are.”

And so it went. No matter what she replied, she did not seem to give a satisfactory answer to the question, “Who are you?”
“I am a Christian.”
“I did not ask what your religion is but who you are.”
“I am the one who went to church every day and always helped the poor and needy.”
“I did not ask what you did but who you are.” (Anthony De Mello, Taking Flight, 140)

She evidently failed the examination, for she was sent back to earth. When she recovered from her illness, she was determined to find out who she was.  She for sure knew who she was just listening to today’s gospel and perhaps this homily, and answered right after the first question to her.

I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world.