"You are salt for the earth . . . You are light for the world." ~Mt. 5: 13, 14
I recall a wonderfully clarifying homily in which our pastor reflected on the meaning of “salt” and “light.” Previously, I had understood “salt” to mean flavoring – i.e., if we are to be “salt” for the world, we offer our own particular "seasoning" -- our experiences, our witness, our perspectives, our gifts -- as nourishment for others. Likewise, we are not to "hide our light under a bushel."
But Fr. M expanded on the “salt” metaphor. When salt
is added to create flavor, not much is needed. Furthermore, the salt disappears
after it is added. Flavor remains, but the salt is hidden. Similarly, the world
needs light, but it doesn’t need blinding. The gift of light enables people to
see, but they see not by focusing on the light itself. They are able to see
what could not have been seen in darkness – they see what the light reveals –
and not really the light itself.
It is a wonderful teaching on humility and sharing one’s
talents. We share what we are and the gifts we have -- not to bring attention to
ourselves, but to bring seasoning to the stew. If the stew was made of ONLY
salt, it would be inedible and unhealthy. Flavor is necessary, yet our task is
not to highlight our particular flavor, but to provide it for something greater
than ourselves. And we stop hiding our light under a bushel so that it can
reveal what was hidden, enable vision for others -- not so that our own shining
becomes the focus of the journey.
