Anne O’Brien, Deputy Chief Executive Officer: Mission, People and Culture for St Agnes’ Catholic Parish, reads today from the Gospel of Matthew (5:13-16) in which Jesus says, ‘let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’.

What a powerful expression, says Anne, light of the world and salt of the earth. Jesus preferred simple everyday imagery to make his point as demonstrated in today’s Gospel. It follows on the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. Here, Jesus articulates clearly what is expected of his followers. He uses the powerful images of salt and light. We are to be the salt of the earth. We are to be the light of the world.

Salt was highly valued in the ancient world. It was used as a seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, component of ceremonial offerings and as a unit of exchange in trade and currency. Just as salt enhances the flavour of food and serves as a preservative, to be salt of the earth means to be useful and helpful and to make a real positive difference to the world. We are to be a presence, which brings out the best in our society.

As for light, it too is vital to life. Light dispels darkness, warming all it reaches, illuminating all in its path. Jesus’ followers would have appreciated how a single lamp would illuminate their house at night. We know that the very existence of life on earth depends on light from the sun. It warms our seas and generates our weather patterns. It powers our solar energy systems and gives energy to the growing green plants that provide food and oxygen for life on earth.

So, to be the light of the world we are to bring light, to bring warmth, to illuminate and enlighten all that nurtures life in our world. It means that we will dispel darkness caused by ignorance or selfishness or prejudice. It means that we will be light for others, illuminating their way on life’s journey. Jesus’ teaching of this Christian message is so very simple and yet so, profoundly, challenging. We are to have a life-giving effect on others, on the society in which we live, and on the world around us.

Jesus challenges us to reflect on what we do and how we might do it better. So how are we going to approach this challenge from today’s Gospel, such strong symbolism about what we should do, let’s all take up the challenge and ask ourselves, how can we be the salt and the light. The answer will help us make the world a better place. Don’t think our small steps won’t make a difference as we can all make a difference one step at a time.

In closing Anne invites us to finish our time together with a prayer:

 Lord Jesus, you have called us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

May our lives bring flavour to the world through love and preserve what is good, true, and holy.

Let our faith shine brightly before others not for our own glory but so that all may see the goodness of the Father and give him praise.

Help us not to hide our light but to be bold in kindness, courageous in truth, and joyful in sharing the Gospel.

Through the power of your Holy Spirit make us instruments of your peace and of your love that the world may taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Amen