5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A
Jesus said:
“You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world.” Mt 5:13-16.
Good people are hated not because they are bad but because their good deeds prick the consciences of those who do bad. I remember my mother who was the favorited teacher of the principal because she did more than what was required of her. The other teachers asked her: “What are you doing? Are you paid for this? In doing this you make us look bad!”
The early Christians were also persecuted for similar reasons. Tertullian, an early theologian from Tunisia, wrote that Christians were like the majority of people. They eat and dress like normal people and follow the same customs. But they were also different from the rest in an extraordinary way. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but are citizens of heaven. A blessing is their answer to abuse and insult.
Because of this Tertullian concluded that the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.
However, Jesus in today’s gospel taught His disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As salt the Christian gives flavor to lives of people who lost appetite in living. As light the Christian shows the way to people lost in the maze of life. In short, the Christian helps the world. How does this stand with Tertullian’s claim that the Christian is not appreciated by people of the world?
Isaiah suggested how the Christian could be light of the world. “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn.” Is 58:7-10
And to convince the Christians of such duty to the world, he reminded them of their benefits in this. “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!’ “
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