“Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13, 14)

The major theme for this 5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time year A focuses on our Christian discipleship’s evangelization and mission, being salt and light for the world. The author of Psalms invites us to “taste and see the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 34:9). Our experience of tasting the salt and seeing the light refers to the knowledge, which has been gained not through any didactic process, but in an existential or experiential manner. It is a knowledge by connaturality that comes from being the kind of person in whom others could experience, “taste” and “see” the goodness of the Lord, so that they could come to a personal knowledge, and experience the saving presence of God in their lives.

We “the People of God” are marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish us from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found in history. We “the People of God,” belong to God and not the contrary, because God is not the property of any one people.

God acquires us for himself, making us "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." We become the People of God not by a physical birth, but by being "born anew," a birth "of water and the Spirit," that is, by faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism.

We are “the Messianic People” having our head Jesus Christ (the anointed, the Messiah), with dignity and freedom of the children of God and temples of the Holy Spirit, following the new commandment of love of Christ, to fulfill our mission of evangelization, to be salt of the earth and light of the world, and seeds of unity, hope, and salvation for the whole human race, to extend and build up the Kingdom of God (CCC #782).

God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to become the salt of the earth and the light of the world, especially in Ordinary Time, to imitate and follow our savior Jesus Christ, to repent our sins, to exercise our Christian stewardship, to use our time, treasure, and talents to love God above all and to love our neighbors as ourselves, participating in the works of mercy, to accomplish God’s will in our lives to glorify God. 

How can we be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, maintaining purity in thoughts and deeds, fighting against evil, preserving the Gospel values and our Christian identity, illuminating Christ’s way to God? 

Wishing you a very happy and blessed week in the Lord.