By Fr Francis Gonsalves, SJ –
5th Sunday of the Year: 9 February 2020
Readings: Isa 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth … You are the light of the world” (Mt)
Note: The symbols of light in the first and third readings, along with the symbol of salt in the third, are very powerful and evocative of what the Christian vision and mission is all about. With simple illustrations from real, everyday life, they can be used effectively for homilies.
Three Signposts from Scripture:
- In the First Testament, love of God and love of neighbour are mandated in the Law and Prophets like two sides of a coin (see, for ex., Lev 19:18). Of course, ‘neighbour’ was often exclusively understood as a fellow Jew or Jewess. In the first reading, Isaiah tells his fellow Jews to practise charity towards their needy neighbours. He points out to the three basic needs—food, shelter, clothing; or, what in north Indian languages is referred to as roti, kapada, makaan. There is mention of ‘healing’ that refers to the offences of God’s people that led to the Exile and required restoration.
True charity aimed at loving and serving the needy neighbour is a sure sign that the people have turned back to God. Thus, God will make their light grow brighter and will relieve them of their burdens (signified by the yoke and the pointing finger also translated as ‘clenched fist’). The imagery of “pouring yourself out for the hungry” is indicative of a sacrificial libation, meritorious in the sight of God.
- Today’s gospel passage is part of Jesus’ ‘sermon on the mount’. Short though the passage is, it presents two very evocative symbols to us, easily understandable by common folk: salt and light. Either one, or both, can be used with telling effect. Think of salt—a common household item that reconciles opposites—cheap, yet precious; imperceptible in food, yet noticed only when is it either too much or too little; solid, yet dissolvable; minor ingredient, yet making a major difference.
Amidst the aromatic assortment of Indian spices from Kashmiri chillies to Keralite cardamom, no housewife is bothered whether salt comes from east, west, north or south India. Neither would any cook be perturbed if table-salt ran out and s/he were to use bigger salt-crystals. “Salt is salt!” one would say: ordinary, soluble, insignificant. Why then does Jesus use this symbol for you and me? In Jesus’ time, salt would’ve easily been available from the Dead Sea. History records two delightful details: (a) a Rabbinic conversation around A.D. 90 refers to the impossibility of any New Law replacing the Old since salt can never lose its taste! (b) Conversely, proconsul Pliny notes that ‘impure’ salt from the Dead Sea does lose its taste. Hence, Jesus stresses a message that is simple and striking: salt does lose its taste, and you, my ‘little ones’ beware, lest you too become tasteless, saltless, useless and only fit to be trampled upon, underfoot!
- The symbol of light is easier to reflect upon since it is seen in our common use of bulbs, lamps, candles, stoves, lighters, etc. Today, with artificial and also solar lighting, the value of light is not as vital as it was in Jesus’ time where there was no electricity at all. Hence, Jesus tells his disciples that they ought to be like lights dispelling the darkness of paganism and godlessness, on one hand, and the rigid ritualistic practice of religion, on the other. The bushel was a wooden vessel for measuring grain. To light a lamp and put it under such a vessel would render the lamp lightless and useless. But the good Christian was expected to be like a lamp set upon a lampstand, giving light to all. Note that there are similarities between salt and light: ordinary, cheap, easily available, capable of losing their identity in the very act of being of service to others.
Connecting the Second Reading and the Psalm to the Theme:
- In keeping with the salt and light theme, Paul comes to preach to the new coverts in the industrious, fairly wealthy seaport of Corinth, who were constantly tempted to boast about their class, charisms, wealth, culture, etc. However, Paul admits that he comes to them “in weakness and in much fear and trembling” since he considers himself small, unintelligent and of meagre resources. But the only thing he can boast about is the “demonstration of the Spirit and power …. the power of God” (1 Cor 2:5). Indeed, the sum and substance of his message is the Crucified-Risen Lord, raised by God’s Spirit.
- Today’s Psalm n. 112 is regarded as a ‘Wisdom Psalm par excellence’ identifying four attributes of the perfect (wo)man, namely, generosity, compassion, justice and fearlessness. These good people “rise in the darkness as a light for the upright.” (v.4)
Contextual Concerns:
The ‘Minority’ Concern: is something that the Indian Church will have to reflect about and be ready to respond to. Today, with the Government calling for a uniform civil code, and the abolishment of constitutionally guaranteed ‘minority rights’, what will the stance of the Church and Indian Christians be?
The Salt-and-Light Concern: is what we, Indian Christians, must address. Our distinctiveness will not lie in showcasing our largesse and benevolence by doling out education, medicines and developmental projects from our self-proclaimed ‘centres’ but by being at the peripheries with the poor like lights and salt—providing light and taste to an India and world enveloped in darkness, slowly losing its multi-ethnic, multicultural, interreligious flavour.
The Cross Concern:
Just as Paul’s wisdom was ironically the ‘folly of the Cross’, so must our words, works and witness revolve around the Cross of Christ; for, in it lies our power.
An Apt Story:
An aged king who had three sons decided to choose his successor. To test his heirs, he inquired how much they loved him. “More than the world’s wealth!” exclaimed the first. The second declared, “Greater than all the wisdom the world holds!” The youngest said, “As dear as salt.”
Infuriated, the king exiled him and bequeathed the kingdom to his eldest son. Later, fortune favoured the banished prince and he became king in another faraway kingdom. But he missed his father and longed to meet him. Years later, he invited his father – very old by then – for a banquet and ordered that sumptuous dishes be prepared, but without any salt.
When the old king came to the palace, his son pretended to be away and his courtiers requested the king to begin feasting. The aroma of the food pleased the king, but, when he tasted it, he was aghast – it was tasteless, saltless! Angry, he demanded an explanation for this insult. His son-king appeared in his regalia, and the old king recognized him, realizing his indiscretion.
Fr. Francis Gonsalves is a Gujarat Jesuit, former Principal of Vidyajyoti College, Delhi, and currently Dean of Theology at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is also the Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Theology and Doctrine. He has authored many books and articles and is a columnist with The Asian Age and The Deccan Chronicle national dailies.