Jesus in today’s gospel uses two metaphors to describe Christians. Christians are to be salt of the earth and light of the world. The disciples need to influence the world through their good deeds. Like salt, Christians should be useful and give taste to the world. Like a light, Christians should radiate or give light to the world. Like a city set on a mountain, the identity of the disciples needs to be noticed by other people. If they fail in good works, they are like flavorless salt and like a lamp in which light is hidden.

These two metaphors are both an invitation, a challenge and a mission to each one of us. A question can be raised to each one us, how to be salt and light of the world here and now?

To be relevant in our world here and now is to be a SALT. Here in the Philippines, our Filipino cuisine depends on a lot of salt. Salt is used for seasoning. Christians are in this world to make it a sweeter place. May our presence the people will taste the goodness of the Lord. Salt is a purifying agent. Purify like salt the news that you received from your social media account. Like a salt can you be on the side of truth in the midst of false and malicious information that is spreading in social media? Salt used to preserve food from spoiling. Preserve-like salt-the Catholic faith. Preserve-like salt- the values of honesty. Can I preserve some values like the importance of family time, the practice of “po and opo”, the value of presence, etc. that are little by little disappearing?

I need to be LIGHT of the world for me to be significant in this world. There is only one Light of the world that is Jesus Christ. Yes, he is THE light of the world but since He is not here with us physically, he wants us to be a light to our brothers and sisters. Light casts out darkness. Through the actions, words and choices of a Christian dispel or contribute darkness. That is why we are asked to embody the light of Jesus in all our actions.

Recently I went to Dinagat Islands in Mindanao for a vocation campaign. Near to the place where I was hosted was a family that was grieving because their daughter (14 years old) committed suicide. I was invited for dinner because they were celebrating the end of the nine-day novena prayer. The family asked me if I can bless their house and bless the tomb of their daughter because no priest visited and consoled them nor prayed for their daughter. I didn’t raise their daughter back to life but with my presence I able to cast out the darkness that they were experiencing at that time.

If we look in our world today, we would conclude that too much darkness and bitterness. It is true. That is why Jesus is asking us to be relevant. How? To be salt and light of the world. Instead of cursing darkness, be a lamp that gives light. Instead of cursing bitterness, be a salt that gives taste and meaning to the life of the other.