Salt and Light

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:13-16)

There is a bit of irony in these verses. The fact of the matter is that salt was thrown out on the paths of Israel and lamps were put under bushel baskets.

Salt is a catalyst. It was used in the village ovens where the villagers baked their daily bread. A bed of salt was placed under the fuel to help create a better fire. However, once its catalytic properties were spent, it was thrown on the footpaths where it served to keep people from slipping on the path.

The flame of a lamp was susceptible to drafts, and Israelite homes were drafty. A hole was left in the ceiling of the home to let the smoke of the cooking fire escape. Windows and doors were often simply open arches to let in people and light. So to keep the lamp from being extinguished from the draft, it was often placed under a basket or placed under a bed.

However, in both cases, the effectiveness of these two things was lessened. For full effect, they needed to be used wisely and prudently. The message that Jesus imparts here is not only a message of encouragement, it is also a message of prudence. It would not be prudent for a person who is hampered by disability to do things that he/she knows are clearly beyond their capabilities. The danger in such behavior risks his/her witness value. Servants of the Gospel are prudent as well as clever.