TUESDAY OF THE TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YEAR B.

8TH JUNE 2021 2 CORINTHIANS 1:18-22 PSALM 119:129-135 MATTHEW 5:13-16

SALT OF THE EARTH AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD: THIS IS WHO WE ARE AND THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

I want us to notice that in today'sGospel passage, Jesus is not saying, " You should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. " Or, " You have to be or you will be or consider being the salt of the earth and the light of the world if you have time. " Jesus clearly tells his disciples, " You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, " this means that this state of being salt and light is already happening now. I want us to also note keenly that Jesus is making to his disciples a promise about their very being, he is not commanding them about what they should be doing, he is telling them who they are. Up to this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus has already called four fishermen ( Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John) and tells them, " Come with me and I will teach you to catch people. " This is a call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world and they can catch people when they are in this state. Jesus then goes ahead to teach, preach and heal and later gives a sermon on true happiness and blessing by saying that happiness or blessing comes to those who know they are spiritually poor, to those who mourn, to those who are humble, to those who are merciful and to those who work for peace. This means that if the disciples portray the above positive qualities then indeed they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. From that connection, we learn that being the salt of the earth and the light of the world is not just a promise to be heard and kept as a gem of knowledge but an affirmation to be acted upon because with the blessing and with promises come responsibility; and that is why Jesus says, " People do not light a lamp and put it under a bushel but on a stand and it gives light to all in the house. "Jesus means that this light has to be seen, not blocked. After telling his disciples that they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Jesus will teach them about issues that require action and the teachings will be about revenge, divorce, love for enemies, fasting, wealth, judging others, praying, anger and reconciliation.

It's one thing to know and claim your identity but it's another thing entirely to act according to it. The words of Jesus teach us today that discipleship is not just a certain way of being but an active ultimate way of being in the world.

When are we supposed to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world? What are we waiting for to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world? What more do we need? What are we afraid of or what don't we know about being the salt of the earth and the light of the world? As we ponder on these questions, rem Jesus has said, " You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. "

Jesus has not said, " You were or you will be the salt of the earth and the light of the world." The good things that we are able to do daily in our lives wherever we find ourselves, in situations that require light and good taste, then these are our moments of being salt and light no matter the circumstances that surround us. This is who we are and this is what we do.