Fifth Sunday of the Year (Year A)

Fifth Sunday of the Year February 05, 2023

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

(image courtesy: Google)

What is the greatest hindrance to Christianity in our country? This is a question that is bound to elicit a variety of answers depending on whom you ask. Possible answers would include: the mass media, popular culture, materialism, bad government policies, other religions, etc. A missionary had the occasion to put this very question to the great Mahatma Gandhi, “What is the greatest hindrance to Christianity in India?” His answer was swift and decisive: “Christians.” It is said that the world would be a more Christian place today were it not for the Christians. The Christians that constitute a hindrance to Christianity are not the real and committed ones, of course, but those who bear the name Christian but, judging from the way they talk and behave, no one would suspect they have anything to do with Christ.

In today’s gospel Jesus says to his disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). But elsewhere in John 8:12 Jesus says of himself, “I am the light of the world.” Who then is the light of the world, Jesus or his followers? This apparent contradiction is resolved by another passage in John 9:5 where Jesus modifies the statement about himself: “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This shows that Jesus is talking about the flesh and blood embodiment of the light. As long as he is physically present in the world he is the light of the world, but when he is no longer physically present his followers now assume the role of being the light of the world.

Last Sunday we heard and reflected on the Beatitudes. Now Jesus calls every one to be the living witnesses of faith.  It tells how the Beatitudes must be lived in our daily lives and how it is essential for the Christian disciple both to be seen and heard.  It is essential to know that Christianity is not a private religion.  A Christian must have to have a vision and a mission.  Christianity is a vision which is meant to change the outlook of the world and bring the good news to all.  A Christian has a mission to put the teachings of Jesus and in particular the Beatitudes into practice.  Jesus uses several images to express this practical aspect: He wants his disciples to be the salt of the earth and wants them to be the light to the world.  Both these elements have to fulfil their purpose namely to give taste to food and to give enlightenment to people. 

It is interesting to know the consequence of not fulfilling the Christian task - being salt and light.  It tells us that if salt loses its taste, no one can restore its ability to give taste to food or become a preservative.  Jesus says that it is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled underfoot. Technically salt never loses its saltiness, but it can be contaminated through impurities and other pollutants.  In other words, when we stop doing good works, and are contaminated, then we are no longer worthy of being called the disciples of Jesus.  We are no longer worthy of the eternal inheritance that awaits all those who persevere in their living faith.  Similarly, a light also has its function to fulfill, namely to make things bright and give light to the house.  In the same way a Christian has to shine before others. A Christian cannot but be the light of Christ.

Secondly, both salt and light operate by associating with the thing that they want to change. Salt cannot improve the food unless it goes into the food and changes it from within. But salt only produces its effect when it is totally merged with the food.  It is indistinguishable from the rest of the food but its presence or absence is very obvious.  Light cannot show the way unless it encounters the darkness. Sometimes Christians think that the way to go is to keep away from getting involved with society and popular culture. But by shying away from the realities of our society and our world we might indeed be hiding our lamp under the bushel basket. To make a difference we must get up and get involved.

Riches, power and control are valued highly in our world. But Jesus draws on little things to teach deeper values. Salt preserves food: in the hands of a skilled cook it adds flavour to food. But its work is hidden. As salt of the earth we can be effective in bringing more taste to life for others.

Light does not change a room: it enables us to see what is in it. It helps us appreciate what is good and beautiful, just as it facilitates avoiding pitfalls. We are children of the light: our lives are illumined by Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). This light helps us to see the hidden hope of glory that is in us. So we can rejoice even in the darkness of the world.

Happy Sunday