When Jesus tells us we are "the salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" in this beloved scripture from Matthew, He's not suggesting we might become these things someday if we try really hard. He's making a bold declaration about our identity right now, today, in this very moment. Just as Mary said "yes" to God's plan with her whole heart, we too are called to embrace this incredible truth about ourselves. We don't earn our saltiness or manufacture our light - Christ Himself has made us these things through our baptism and our life in Him. What a liberating and joyful reality! We're not striving to become worthy; we're learning to live out the worthiness He's already given us.
Salt in Jesus' time was precious beyond measure - literally used as currency and essential for preserving food in a world without refrigeration. When He calls us salt, He's saying we're absolutely indispensable to God's plan for the world. Just as Our Lady's "fiat" preserved God's plan of salvation, our faithful witness preserves hope in a world that desperately needs it. But here's the beautiful challenge: salt that loses its saltiness is good for nothing. We maintain our "flavor" not through our own strength, but by staying close to Jesus in prayer, in the sacraments, and in community. When we do this, we naturally season every conversation, every relationship, and every situation we enter with the love of Christ. We become living reminders that God's goodness is real and present in the world.
The light imagery Jesus uses is equally stunning and practical. Light doesn't announce itself - it simply shines, and everything changes. When Mary carried Jesus in her womb, she became a walking tabernacle, carrying the Light of the World wherever she went. We carry that same Light today through grace, and just as she couldn't hide the joy of her pregnancy from Elizabeth, we can't truly hide the joy of knowing Christ from those around us. Jesus specifically mentions putting our light on a lampstand, not hiding it under a basket. This isn't about being pushy or preachy - it's about being authentically joyful, genuinely loving, and consistently hopeful. When people see us living with peace in chaos, forgiveness in hurt, and love in difficult relationships, they naturally wonder what makes us different.
The ultimate goal Jesus gives us is beautifully simple: "so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Notice, He doesn't say they'll glorify us - they'll glorify God. This takes all the pressure off! We're not trying to impress anyone or win arguments; we're simply living in such a way that others catch a glimpse of heaven. Mary understood this perfectly at Cana when she told the servants, "Do whatever He tells you." She pointed everyone to Jesus, not to herself. When we live as salt and light, we become like her, gentle evangelists who make following Christ look not burdensome, but beautiful. We show the world that being a disciple isn't about following endless rules, but about falling in love with the One who is Love itself. In our ordinary lives, through our extraordinary love, we become living invitations to encounter the same Jesus who has transformed our hearts.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
