Matthew 5:13-16, Tuesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” It is striking that He doesn’t say try to be light, or work on becoming salt. He simply says: you are. The question is: What does it mean to be salt? What does it mean to be light?

In today’s world, we often confuse light with spotlight. We acclaim those who are followed, liked, and recognized, even in the Church. We have “celebrity priests,” religious influencers, and ministries built around personalities. These can subtly shift the focus away from Christ toward self. We see this dynamic even more starkly in politics. The line between public service and celebrity is virtually nonexistent. Personality politics favors image, name recall, and branding over principles and a proven track record. It thrives on ego. This is the opposite of what Jesus calls us to.

𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 is to shift the focus away from the self. Salt doesn’t season itself. Light doesn’t exist to admire its own glow. Their worth lies in what they do for others: salt preserves and enhances; light reveals and guides. And so it is with us followers of Christ. We are called not to draw attention to ourselves, but to help others see what is true and taste what is just.

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Too much salt can spoil a meal; too much light can overwhelm the eyes. To be salt and light is not just about showing up. It’s about learning to be attentive and responsive. It requires discernment: knowing when to speak and when to remain silent, when to challenge and when to comfort, when to shine brightly and when to glow gently. Christian witness is not about force or volume, but about presence and wisdom—a heart attuned to what the moment truly asks for.

In an age of so-called influencers, the Christian is called to 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑎 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑠, 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞: love that listens, notices, and responds with wisdom and care. Often, this takes shape in quiet choices that go unseen but make God’s love tangible in ordinary and hidden places.

In a world loud with self-promotion, being salt and light is not about seeking attention, but about discerning where Christ is needed and gently making Him known. It is the daily practice of attentive presence and humble responsiveness, tuning our hearts to the needs of others and to the subtle movements of the Spirit, and letting our lives gently illuminate the path toward what is true, just, and good.

So today, let us take to heart those simple but radical words of Jesus: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Not someday. Not when we’re perfect. But now—today. May our Christian lives shape the world not with distracting noise or empty image, but with quiet discernment, steady presence, and the courage to serve without needing to be seen.

*from CIS FB page. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝐻𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑦𝑜 𝐾𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑛’𝑠 𝐾𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑎𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑀𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝐽𝑢𝑛𝑒 10, 2025.

**image from the Internet