With Opened Bible
Light and Salt of the World
“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus invites us to be and to do as He did: salt and light of the world. To do this, He gives us the perfect example to follow. Acts of compassion inspire admiration in the world: "Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16) In this invitation, Jesus should be seen not as one who commands but above all as one who first does what He demands of others. He gave himself up out of love on the cross for his friends. (Cf. John 10:15) Thus, only love and compassion can draw humanity to God.
In the first reading, Isaiah made the same observation.
He exhorted Israel—not to religion, like fasting—but rather to love through works of charity: "Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: "Here I am!" (Isaiah 58:7-9)
This plea emphasized action stemming from love. Jesus would do the same in the discourse on the Last Judgment. Works of mercy are the vectors of true faith: "I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink..." (Matthew 25:35) Indeed, Saint James was right to proclaim that: "also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Indeed, someone may say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' (James 2:17-18)
To be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, we must first know how to love and become signs of compassion in a world without heart or fear of God. Our prayers and beautiful celebrations will not draw the world to God, but our acts of charity, which are different from those of the world, will. Let this in-
spire you to see your actions as vital to your faith journey, encouraging confidence in your ability to make a difference.
