Daily Catholic Lectio. Tue, 11 June 2024. Salt and light

Daily Catholic Lectio

Tue, 11 June 2024

Tenth Week in Ordinary Time – Tuesday

Saint Barnabas, Apostle – Memorial

Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3. Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and light

The gospel reading of the day stands between Jesus’ eight beatitudes and his six commandments. Jesus says to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world.” Let us be attentive. He does not say in subjunctive, “You shall be the salt and the light”; nor does he say in imperative, “be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” Rather, he makes a statement in an indicative mood, underscoring that his disciples are ‘already’ salt and light. These two word pictures define the identity of disciples. In the First Testament, the people of Israel, the Law, Jerusalem, and the Temple were considered as lights. But now the disciples have become the light.

(a) You are the salt of the earth

Salt is used to add taste to food, to preserve food, and to add to the sacrificial offerings. Salt melts or dissolves itself and becomes one with the element that it embraces. It hides itself from others’ eyes. But people can feel its taste. The essence of salt is its saltiness. If it loses it, or if it disowns its essence, it becomes a waste. Climatic conditions, time, place of storage, and handling affect the salt. Yet, salt must withstand all these. In the same way, the disciples are expected to withstand all the external obstacles.

(b) You are the light of the world

Along with ‘light’ Jesus uses the metaphors of ‘town on the hill,’ and ‘lamp.’ Jesus, who came as light to the world, calls his disciples light. Salt has to do with taste, while light has to do with sight. It was an ancient belief that life is possible if there is light. Our human lives have been transformed since the invention of light. Light makes existence and movement possible. Both salt and light avail themselves as usable commodities. Light does not melt as much as salt, but it could have obstacles.

At the end of the second metaphor, Jesus exhorts, ‘Let your light shine before human persons.’ When their light shines, the Father in heaven is glorified. In Matthew, the expression ‘your father in heaven’ is unique. It is used in this text for the first time. This gives an additional identity to the disciples.

When salt loses its saltiness, it becomes a contrast to itself. When light is obstructed, it becomes a contrast to itself. It is necessary that the words and deeds of disciples are not self-contradictory.

In the responsorial psalm (cf. Ps 119), the Psalmist sings, “Let your face shine forth on your servant.” Since God’s light shines on us, we are the light of the world.

Today we commemorate Saint Barnabas, Apostle. He is one of the key characters in the Acts. He was Paul’s companion on his mission. Luke introduces him as follows: “There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” (cf. Acts 4:36-37)

In the first reading, we hear about the role of Barnabas in the vocation narrative of Paul. Paul’s ministry was not accepted in the beginning. Hence, he left for his hometown. Barnabas looks for him and brings him to the people. Barnabas later expands his mission.

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Let us be Barnabas, ‘sons and daughters of encouragement;’ Let us encourage them with our word and deed. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 121).

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy