5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle A
February 5, 2023 5pm
Our Lady of Grace Parish, Parkton
Salt in Food
I seldom add salt to food.
We all know what the medical profession says about limiting the amount of sodium in our diet. Most food needs some salt, but I rarely add more to what is already in it.
The exception is that every August, I find myself using the saltshaker. I enjoy a simple tomato sandwich: slices of vine-ripe tomato, mayonnaise on the bread, a slice of cheddar cheese, and definitely a dash of salt on the tomato.
The salt brings out the wonderful taste of the tomato. It just isn’t quite as good without the salt.
Those who like to cook tell me how important salt is. Just the right amount brings out the full flavor of the beef or green beans, but too much salt can ruin the taste.
We Are Salt
Our use of salt on food helps us to appreciate today’s gospel.
Jesus tells us that we are “the salt of the earth.” The idea is that we are to flavor and enhance the world.
Just as salt does for food, we are to bring out the best in those around us. So, parents are salt by teaching their children simple things like saying “Please” or “Thank you” or by helping them with a science project or something like that.
Teachers and guidance counselors are salt by guiding young people into the extra-curriculars that will develop them well – like dance, music, soccer, basketball, whatever. We can be salt by listening carefully to a spouse or friend, helping them to clarify what their upset is all about, and then assisting them in figuring out how they might best express themselves.
As I say all of this, it is also important to remember that ordinary salt is something we seldom notice. We never say: “Wow, that salt really tastes good!”
Instead, we say: “That fried chicken was great!” If it is the right amount, the salt enhances and draws the best out of the food, but draws no attention to itself.
That is an important feature of salt. Jesus wants us to have this same feature.
We Are Light
Jesus also tells us that we are to be “the light of the world.”
Well, we don’t sit and look at a light bulb, and we should not look directly at the sun. Instead, we look at what light illumines.
So, something like salt, as light we are not to be the center of attention. Instead, we are to light up what is beyond us and enable others to see certain things.
Maybe it is the light of faith itself when we try to share parts of our faith and faith practice with our children. Maybe it is the light of an insight, when we try to guide a young adult on a relationship issue.
Maybe it is pointing out the light instead of cursing the darkness. Instead of just harping on the bad things in our society and world, we can highlight persons who give generously of their time for aging parents or for Habitat for Humanity and things like that.
Pope Francis once gave an interview to a journalist who is a non-believer, an agnostic. And the Pope never put him down for not believing.
Instead, he affirmed the good things this man is doing and said we meet and are one in doing good. That’s the Pope’s way to be light in today’s world, and it is a good example for us, maybe in dealing with a son or daughter or others who no longer practice their faith.
Conclusion
One more thought. Too much salt can ruin food and too much light can blind us.
In trying to be salt and light for others, we need to be careful. Pushing too much by being too much salt or too much light can hurt relationships and just push others away from what we would like them to have.
So, with that caution, Jesus uses some simple images to describe how he wants us to be his disciples. Both salt and light focus beyond themselves, not on themselves.
And both are very positive in the way they act. Helpful images and lessons for us today!
