We don’t exist for ourselves alone

The Gospel today presents three major images.

Salt.

Light.

City on top of a hill.

Salt. It abounds in Israel. In fact in 2019, the largest salt cave was discovered in Malham Cave, overlooking the Dead Sea. The dead is a body of water surrounded by Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. It is known for high levels of salt and thus everything placed upon the water floats.

Light. The early Israelites communities have a peculiar way of keeping lights. Hebrew houses are usually dark. They cover the fire/lamp at night when the go to sleep instead of putting it off because it was hard to create fire as they had to create it through friction. This practice has been mentioned several times in the Gospels (Matthew 5:14–15, Mark 4:21–25 and Luke 8:16–18) as well as in The Old Testament Joel 3:13.

City on a hill. This refers to Jerusalem as it sits on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. This is a great advantage for the protection and the fortification of the city as it is hard to attack it from below. However, as a city on a hill, it could be seen from a far and serves as a landmark for travelers.

These images are used by Jesus as alluding to the refusal of the people of Israel to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and the self-centerdness of the Jews as they refuse to welcome the diversity of God’s peoples.

Jesus was as if telling them not to keep the gift of revelation they had received among themselves alone and instead share with it with the whole humanity.

So what does it mean for us today?

The images of salt, light, and the city on a hill suggest service.

SALT

The salt does not exist for itself. It exists for a purpose and mission which is to give taste to the food and to preserve the food from being destroyed.

The wholeness of the salt is achieved when it gets used for the food. If it is kept on a container, it remains a something that is apart from its intended purpose. Once the salt is used to give taste and to preserve, it fulfills its mission and purpose.

Then, as it fulfills its mission and purpose, the salt vanishes.

It vanishes.....

The salt can no longer be seen as such but its presence is manifested in another way; it is tasted on the food, and in the preservation of the meat or food.

LIGHT

The Light, does not exist for itself. Light bulbs are there not for us to be attracted or drawn to them but to light our way. If the light bulb attracts us to itself, it does not serve its purpose at all. If we hide the light under our bushel baskets, it cease to fulfill its mission and purpose which is to help people see in the darkness.

Lights on the road assist us to see.

They are silent guides on our journey.

CITY ON A HILL

The City on a hill does not exist for itself. It exists for the purpose of protection and as a landmark. In the olden times and civilizations, cities built on a hill risk many construction factors. It takes more resources and labor to build on top of a hill. This is why natives prefer to live on caves, trees, and on low lands.

However, cities on hills like Jerusalem, Israel, Assisi and many more are designed to become fortresses and landmarks to serve the travelers and the citizens at the same time. It serves two purposes. If a city on a hill could not protect or help navigators, it ceases to fulfill its mission and purpose.

We are invited today to exist for others. We are here in this life for a purpose, one that is towards the benefit of the others. We do not exist for ourselves alone. We are invited to be of service to one another especially to those who are dear to us.

We are called to be the shining city, the model or landmark whom people will look up to in the uprightness of our actions, and in the beauty that comes from living in dignity and integrity.

We are called to be the light that will help people find their way; for them to appreciate the light and avoid the darkness. We are here to guide people achieve their destinations in life, and not to hinder them nor to confuse them.

Lastly, we are to becomes salts. We are called by God to give pleasant flavors into the lives of the people around us. We are his images, and so we are also his flavors. May people see and taste God whenever they see us around.

St. Paul reminds us: “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8) We are not here for ourselves alone.

Leave your mark in people’s lives!

Be insignificant.

Serve truly.

Care sincerely.

Love anyway.

Love from afar.

Love silently.

We are here for God and God tells us to be salt, light and a city on a hill.

Amen.

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READINGS (TUESDAY OF THE TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME)

FIRST READING 2 Cor 1:18-22

Brothers and sisters: As God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes” and “no,” but “yes” has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory. But the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 119:129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 135

R. (135a) Lord, let your face shine on me.

Wonderful are your decrees; therefore I observe them. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. The revelation of your words sheds light, gives understanding to the simple. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. Turn to me in pity as you turn to those who love your name. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. Steady my footsteps according to your promise, and let no iniquity rule over me. R. Lord, let your face shine on me. Let your countenance shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

GOSPEL Mt 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “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 set 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.”