Matthew 5:13-16

Photo by Fr. Augustine Foley

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. 

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

Matthew 5:13-16

I keep this scripture, today's Gospel, on the header above to remind myself not to be so private and instead share my faith. I often miss the mark. It safe to say many catholics are too timid when it comes to this. At the same time we are seeing the numbers of catholics diminish. According to Bishop Robert Barron, this passage is not meant to be a comforting message about darkness and light but be somewhat alarming and to shake us awake. He refers to the language about the salt which adds so much to food but when it has lost its taste it is no longer good for anything! 

Msgr. Charles Pope has a wonderful homily on this passage at this link:

Pass the Salt and Put on the Light – A Homily for the 5th Sunday of the Year