by Fr. Tommy Lane
What is a follower of Jesus to do? How would you recognize a disciple of Jesus? Jesus gives us two answers in the Gospel today: a disciple of Jesus is not to lose taste and a disciple of Jesus is to let Jesus’ light shine. (Matt 5:13-16)
Why would Jesus say we are salt and not to lose taste? (Matt 5:13) Just before this, Jesus taught the beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12). The beatitudes concluded by telling us that we are blessed if people persecute us because we are followers of Jesus (Matt 5:11-12). Then Jesus said his followers are the salt of the earth, but they are not to lose their taste. So, in the face of persecution of any kind for being followers of Jesus, our reaction is to remain steadfast and not lose our flavor. In fact, what is translated as “losing taste,” in Matthew’s Greek means “becoming foolish.” It would be foolish to stop following Jesus or be afraid to publicly follow Jesus because of pressure from others. In some parts of Europe, young people are put under a lot of peer pressure not to go to Mass on Sunday. In such a situation, continuing to go to Mass despite peer pressure, is one example of retaining taste and not being foolish. The world can sometimes react to Christians by opposition or persecution. How are we to react back? By remaining steadfast, by keeping our flavor. In fact, when Jesus asked how to restore taste to salt that has lost its taste, he probably meant that you cannot restore the flavor to salt again because it doesn’t normally lose its flavor [In the Babylonian Talmud (b.Bek. 8B / b. Bek. 1:2i, I.7.QQ) a rabbi asks the same question, but it is a joke]. So just as salt doesn’t lose its flavor, a follower of Jesus is not to become foolish, is not to be embarrassed to be seen as a disciple of Jesus.
Jesus also says his disciples are to let light shine (Matt 5:14-16). The light that we are to let shine is the light of Jesus. He is the light of the world (John 8:12). Jesus’ light was first lit in us when we were baptized. When we were baptized, our baptismal candle was lit from the Paschal Candle. The Paschal Candle symbolizes Jesus. Lighting our baptismal candle from the Paschal Candle at baptism shows that at baptism we receive the light of Jesus. Now since baptism we are to be the light of the world.
Jesus says you don’t light a lamp to put it under a basket but put it on the stand so that it gives light to all in the house. Jesus’ disciples are to let Jesus’ light shine. How do we let Jesus’ light shine? Just before this Jesus taught the beatituden so when we live the beatitudes we let Jesus’ light shine. We let Jesus’ light shine when we are poor in spirit by depending on God (Matt 5:3). We let Jesus’ light shine when we are meek (Matt 5:5). We let Jesus’ light shine when we hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt 5:6). We let Jesus’ light shine when we are merciful to others (Matt 5:6), when we are clean of heart (Matt 5:8) and when we are peacemakers (Matt 5:9). In the first reading today, in the prophet Isaiah (58:7-10), we heard lots of examples of how to let light shine. The reading said your light will shine in the darkness when you share your bread with the hungry, when you shelter the oppressed and homeless, when you clothe those who have no clothes and when you don’t turn your back on your own, when you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech. In other words, we let Jesus’ light shine by being kind to others because whatever we do to others we do to Jesus.
When the world reacts to us with opposition or persecution, we are to react back with kindness, which is the light of Jesus, and that kindness will help save the world. As the world distances itself from God and opposes or persecutes those who remain faithful to God, ironically the world is persecuting those who are most able to help the world. What happened in the life of Jesus, is happening now in the lives of Jesus’ followers. Yet when we are kind to others, we never know what good effects our kindness will have on others or how it may help them to come closer to Jesus. The lady responsible for the law case in the United States that legalized abortion (1973), was later influenced by pro-lifers who moved into an office next to her in Dallas (1995) and that paved the way for her conversion. She became pro-life herself and three years later, in 1998, was received into the Catholic Church. So, letting the light of Jesus shine, even in the midst of opposition or persecution, is helping to save the world. As Jesus said in the Gospel, “your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matt 5:16)
Apart from helping others and being kind to others, here in Bavaria you let your light shine in other beautiful ways for all to see. You have a crucifix on public buildings and inside banks. I have not seen a crucifix in a bank in any other place in the world. (There is a crucifix inside in every bank in Bavaria.) Bavaria is stating publicly that Jesus’ death is so important, that it is the most important event in the whole of history, that you want a public reminder of Jesus’ death for your salvation on every building. Bavaria is dedicated to Our Lady, and you have a statue of Our Lady in the center of many towns and cities as a public reminder that Bavaria is dedicated to Our Lady. You have many processions and pilgrimages displaying to all that you have the light of Jesus, and you want that light to shine and be seen.
Jesus said his disciples are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. No matter what opposition comes, may you retain your flavor, and may you always let the light of Jesus shine, “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matt 5:16)
© Fr. Tommy Lane 2020
This homily was delivered near Regensburg while on a research sabbatical.
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