SALT AND LIGHT FOR THE WORLD

Homily of Tuesday, 9 June 2026Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A. Fr. Emmanuel Aghidi CSSp.
Theme: SALT AND LIGHT FOR THE WORLDText: Mat 5:13-15

Dear friends, every Christian has two primary duties in life: striving for personal holiness and working to help others achieve this same degree of holiness. This is what it means to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” Consider salt. Salt is a preservative and adds flavour to food. It does so by entering the food and disappearing. So it must be with us. First, Jesus must enter our lives and preserve us from the corruption of sin. He will also bring out our goodness in a way that the “flavour” of holiness is evident to others. In this way, we will be used as salt for others. This is especially done by our works of charity. By our gentleness and compassion, our kindness and mercy, we preserve others and help them to grow in God’s abundant grace. And we do so, many times, without them even realising how God used us. Consider, also, light. The world in which we live is oftentimes quite dark and despairing.

There is corruption all around us, and temptations abound. Thus, the light of Christ must be made manifest far and wide. Those all around us need to see clearly the path to holiness and happiness. Thus, we first work to become light itself. Christ, the true Light of the World, must so permeate our lives that we find it almost automatic to shine brightly in a fallen world. When Christ is alive in us, we will radiate joy and peace, calm and conviction, moral goodness and determination. And when we live this way, we will not have to “impose” the gospel on others; rather, God’s light will shine and be a beacon of hope to those who come into our presence. Reflect today upon these two missions in life.May the Lord bless His words in our hearts. Amen.