Reflection for June 8 Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 5:13-16

Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 

 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

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Reflection:

The story is told about a hardworking single mother who was able to brought up her children and sent them to college by herself.  The same single mother was the bond behind a closely knit siblings. 

Every now and then she would also provide help for her poor siblings and being the eldest she would also patiently counsel them and whenever they need help she would always be there to provide without string attached on it. This extra-ordinary woman is the personification of what Jesus had said to His disciple: “You are the salt of the earth and light of the world. 

What does salt gives? It gives flavor to food, it defines its taste, it also acts as preservative to prevent meat from decaying. That’s what the lady in the story did, she put flavor and defined the lives of her children and siblings.  Through her heroic effort she preserved them all from going astray.  

What did Jesus mean when He said to his disciples that they would be the light of the world?  Jesus simply means that they should illuminate the people that they would be serving. Their acts of goodwill must be done with utmost humility and they must serve without expecting anything. 

Therefore the challenge for us is to become salt and light in the lives of the people around us. To our respective families, friends and to those who know us although we may not know them. 

With the love and humility of Jesus deeply rooted in our lives we now become Salt and Light for them. – Marino J. Dasmarinas