Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 5th February, 2023

Gospel:  Matthew  5: 13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.

In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord          Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Donal Neary SJ:  
Gospel Reflections for Sundays of Year A: Matthew
www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

Salt for the Eucharist

In Galilee around the time of Jesus, there was a flourishing fish­ing industry. Peter, James and John were part of it, and they were big-time fishermen. Fish from Galilee went all over the then known empire, and to Rome along the trade route, which went through Galilee. It was kept fresh, as much food was, as we kept food fresh for years before freezers - by salting it. The word of God is kept fresh within us by prayer; otherwise our Christian life may become weak and tasteless.

A big food of Jesus is the Eucharist. His bread of life can go stale unless we 'salt' it. We salt the Eucharist by our lives. We keep the Mass alive by the way we live.

The Eucharist is entrusted to us. God gives us his Son, his food, and leaves it to us how we live by it.

Jesus invites us to be the 'salt of the earth' - to be people whose lives are centred on helping others and making the places around us places of kindness, compassion, hope, fun and life. We don't say 'You're salt of the earth', if someone just receives communion. We are the salt of the earth if we live out our com­munion. The bread of Jesus is salted with the goodness of men and women, young and old, everywhere.

Our response then links in with the first reading - if we feed, shelter, clothe and help our neighbour, we are 'the light that rises in the darkness'.

Recall when you helped someone recently.
Give thanks you could do this.
Lord may your kingdom come in every part of the world.