Sunday 5 February 2023
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 58:7-10. A light rises in the darkness for the upright – Psalm 111(112):4-9. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Matthew 5:13-16.
Humble as salt, vivacious as light
There are a number of ways the ‘salt of the earth’ analogy can be understood. It might be salt as seasoning, enhancing flavour; or salt as preservative, allowing communities to preserve meats to be shared later; or salt as catalyst for fire, used to ignite the fuel under a first century house fire of the earthen oven. That fuel was dung.
Just as light makes possible sight for Jesus’ disciples, salt makes possible fire. He is calling them to enliven, to light fires and lamps. We disciples are not to be the main event, but to share the Good News that has been shared with us. Jesus encourages us to be evangelical. To share the grace we have received in being invited to relationship with God through Jesus. As humble as salt, with all the vivacity of light.
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