"You are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5: 13, 16)

We continue to listen to Jesus. He, the New Moses, seated on a mountain continues to instruct us, His disciples of today. He speaks to us in metaphorical language. Employing the homely metaphors of salt and lamp, He says the following:

"You, my disciples of all ages, have an exalted vocation for the world, though persecuted. That's you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Now live this vocation in the world. Be this salt and light with your good works effectively. Influence the world for good. Improve the quality of human existence and preserve it from destruction. Your action serve as a beacon of light in a dark world."

"The sole purpose of it should be that others may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."

"You being my disciples in the world cannot escape notice just as 'A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden." You should not shrink from your world mission. Live for others like a lamp set on a lampstand and gives light to all in the house."

"But if you fail in good works, you are as useless as flavourless salt or as a lamp whose light is hidden under a measure. The fate of salt will be God's judgement on you" - "It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot ... Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket."

Let us now analyze this message of Jesus. First, it is salt. Salt was often costly. But its value was so much. "Nothing is more useful than salt or sunshine" (National History, 31.102).

What is the use of salt? Salt improves the taste of food as spice "Can a thing insipid be eaten without salt? Is there flavor in the white of an egg?" (Job 6: 6). It also preserves food like meat and fish.

Now concerning "a city set on a mountain." Nazareth, Hippos and Jerusalem are hill top cities in Jesus' land. "A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden" could be a popular wise saying. The Christian disciples are a city set on a mountain. They are so obvious. They stand out like a sore thumb. Everyone can see them as quite different from others. They can hardly escape notice.

Now concerning 'Lamp' and 'Lampstand'. "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." Lamp = a small and common clay lamp that burns olive oil drawn up by a wick. Bushel basket: a vessel used to measure grains. How can a small clay lamp give light to all in the house? The house should be a one room house of a Palestinian peasant. As the lamp gives off only modest light, it could be strategically positioned for maximum benefits. It was placed on a lampstand, often a niche built into a wall. Jews were accustomed to burning lamps overnight in their chambers. Why? They dreaded darkness. They also wanted to keep away prowlers.

In Matthew, Jesus is the light, "the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen" (4:16). Now Christians are the light. They are the lamp set on lampstand that gives light to all household. They are to live for others.

Jesus then explains what these domestic metaphors of salt and lamp mean? "Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." They are the good deeds of His disciples.

How can the disciples be the salt of the earth? How can they be the light of the world? What are the good works through which God is glorified?

This message of Jesus is strictly Theocentric (God centered). Others may see the witness of the Disciples of Christ - "good works" - and glorify the Father in heaven - "... and glorify your heavenly Father." The good works of the disciples should lead many to God the Father. Every good deed we do is solely, as phrased by St. Ignatius of Loyola, 'ad majorem Dei gloriam' (to the greater glory of God).