CAN WE BE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD?
Today, we celebrate the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings help us to think and look at our relationship with God and challenges us to have a transformative change in our lives, to see and serve God in other people and in society.
In the 1st reading Isaiah 58, Prophet Isaiah points out that though the Israelites appear to be just, faithful, and righteous, they had forsaken obedience to God, willing to entrust their rituals and prayers to God and yet not make a genuine conversion to turn back to God. They observed rituals but ignored the poor, the hungry and the suffering around them. Rather than merely exterior practices, Isaiah contrasts genuine service to God - when we share our bread with the hungry, welcome the homeless, clothe the naked and care for those in need. To stop blaming others, speaking evil of others, instead to remedy and give relief to the oppressed (Isaiah 58:7). In this way, our light can rise and shine in the darkness as God’s light and presence in the world.
In the 2nd reading 1 Corinthians 2, St Paul gives us the way to declare God’s message. He says he does not rely on knowledge and wisdom and instead comes in weakness and fear, and only by the power of God (1 Cor 2:5) leading him to teach one message of Jesus Christ and Christ crucified (1 Cor 2:2). I can but only imagine for the first Christians who heard this from St Paul, it may have struck them as startling and perhaps fearful. A cross symbolised the terror, cruelty, and violence of the world which the Roman authorities used to terrify people into submission as a guarantee of a slow, painful, and humiliating death. St Paul convinced that there is no knowledge superior to knowing the crucified Christ, His Resurrection has disempowered the cross declaring that the cross does not scare and God is more powerful. This is most uplifting and gives us courage in all circumstances and in times of difficulty, when we accept our weaknesses and depend on God, placing our confidence not in ourselves but in Christ.
Together with the first and second readings, in the Gospel we have the continuation of the Sermon on the Mount taken from Matthew 5: 13-16. Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and a city set on a mountain. What do all three of these have in common? They do not exist for themselves, rather they exist for something else; similarly, this applies to our vocation and life’s journey.
In the ancient world, salt was used to preserve, prevent decay, a precious and essential commodity. Today, salt is easily available and primarily used to enhance flavour to draw out the best taste and to protect food from turning bad; and serves no purpose when it remains in the container. This is a reminder that sitting alone in the comfort of our homes is unlikely to make a difference to anyone, and to those who need Christ. Also, a warning that salt may lose its taste and value, becoming diluted or adulterated rendering it useless. The same is true of our lives, as we can lose our saltiness when we become too attached and distracted to things of the world, or overcome by bitterness, hurts and many other factors.
The second image Jesus uses is light. The presence of Christians in the world is to be a light in the darkness. Light does not exist for itself, a lamp is not lit to be hidden and its purpose is to shine in the dark. Jesus came among us as light to scatter darkness of the fallen world. The light allows others to witness and recognise God’s presence, His love and mercy which is much needed in today’s world.
We learn that the 3 images that Jesus describes are very important and associated to the identity and location of ancient Israel. In 2 Chronicles 13:5, “the Lord God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt.” The Covenant of Salt signifies a holy, everlasting, incorruptible and binding agreement. Jerusalem was to be a city set on a mountain drawing all nations towards its glorious light streaming from its temple. Israel was given mission to be a light to the nations. This reminds us that the Church and every individual is to fulfil this same mission by our faith, in good works, and by love for the other in our choices, words, and actions.
At the same time, we know that life is not a bed of roses, and it is not easy to be the salt and light of the world. It is easy due to fear or attacks, to remain a silent spectator. It is easy to hide our light under a basket, to keep unforgiveness with us and to turn a blind eye to the poor and needy. By the distractions we can be drawn into, to take the goodness of God and the goodness of people for granted. We could multiply the examples and still not cover everything and every situation.
Reflecting on the readings, there are many ways for one to grow and live as salt and light in the world, and many are already doing so in their daily work and prayers. “The Practice of the Presence of God,” a book by Brother Lawrence comes to mind as an inspiration, as one of the ways to do so. On a daily and continued basis, it helps grow and strengthen one’s faith foundation, and to face and live happily with others as salt and light of the world in the joys, struggles, and uphill battles all along our journey in life.
The book by Brother Lawrence, a 17th century Carmelite friar is a compilation of letters and conversations and his depth of love for God, his life lived in obedience, humility, and concern for others. Offering insight that living in the presence of God is a continuous, loving conversation with Him, achievable by performing all daily tasks, even mundane chores purely for His love rather than self. He encouraged cultivating a constant awareness of God’s nearness, treating work as worship emphasizing simplicity, humility, giving one’s life to the Lord and allowing the Lord to lead.
In December 2025, we read Pope Leo’s introduction in the release of a new edition of this book “The Practice of the Presence of God.” The book is an enduring, successful classic of Christian literature in print for over 300 years. Pope Leo writes that as he has had occasion to say this small book is one of the foundational text that shaped his spiritual life and formed him in what the path can be for knowing and loving the Lord. Through the path that Brother Lawrence proposes, little by little, as the presence of God becomes familiar and occupies our inner space, the joy of being with Him grows, graces and spiritual riches blossom, and even daily tasks become easy and light. The writings and testimonies of Brother Lawerence who lived through troubled events of his century, certainly no less violent than ours – can be an inspiration and help today for the life of men and women of the third millennium (n. LEV edition 2025)
Brother Lawrence explains that the practice of the presence of God is the holiest, most ordinary, and most necessary practice of the spiritual life. It is to take delight in and to become accustomed to His divine company speaking humbly and always conversing lovingly with Him at every moment without rule or measure even in times of temptation, suffering, aridity, weariness and even infidelity and sin. We must continually apply ourselves so that all our actions without exception become a kind of brief conversation with God (n. “The practice of the presence of God” by Brother Lawrence 2021).
How did the practice of the presence of God for Brother Lawrence come about? Born 1614 into a poor French family, as a young man he joined the army and fought in the Thirty Years’ War, one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. At the age of 18, while in military service he began his spiritual journey … one day in winter while he saw a barren tree stripped of its leaves, he realised in a little while its leaves would reappear followed by its flowers and fruit. He received profound insight into God’s providence and God’s divine presence that continued unabated for the rest of his life. He was captured and was to be executed as a spy, but managed to escape. He was wounded and went home to recover. At 26 years of age, he applied and was admitted as a Brother to the Carmelites. For the first 15 years as a religious Brother, he was a cook for 80 to 100 friars. Amidst the busyness, noise, clatter of daily cooking, kitchen work, shopping food and supplies, people who came to see him for advice; he was able to find a way to pray. For example, when cooking an omelette, he flips the omelette for the glory of God and when it is finished, he thanks God who gave him the grace to do it well. If otherwise, he asked pardon and without being discouraged, he set his mind right again. He was not naturally attracted to kitchen work, however his practice of the presence of God made it a joy for him. His belief that all work can be done for God’s glory, that all work in any occupation matters, and we ought not to weary even in small menial tasks. He experienced poor health from his war injury and could not keep up with the kitchen duties which were demanding. He began to work in the sandal shop and interacted with many people from all walks of life, the poor, the prominent, and all who came to him for spiritual advice. He maintained this inner peace and equanimity, and that we should not wonder what troubles, temptations, oppositions, and contradictions happen to us from men. Rather to rise after falls, and by frequent renewed acts of faith and love.
Here are some suggestions to practise daily the presence of God to help live as salt and light of the world; and surely there are many other ways that you may have in mind.
- For awareness to bring Jesus with you in each task and whom you meet. One example is when going to the next task to say ‘Jesus come with me to the next task’ and to continue doing so for other tasks.
- A prayer or verse to bring your attention and constant communion with God, for example The Jesus Prayer – “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
- Remembering the Angelus at lunchtime.
- To turn to the presence of God, when frustrated in traffic, with a co-worker, family member, or our friends.
- An act of mercy that God is inviting you today.
We pray for the grace to live in constant communion with God, to develop a true devotion which will help us, to depend not on human wisdom but on the power of God. May we grow towards becoming the salt and light of the world, and a city set on a mountain that Jesus asks us to be. May the presence of God always be with us.
Article by Olivia Tan. HFC Blog Contributor