Daily Bread

After finishing the Beatitudes, Jesus gives his followers new identities: to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Salt is a valuable commodity used to preserve food, enhance its flavor, and serve other purposes. Salt itself is not the meal, but it makes food edible and lasting. If it does not act like salt, it is worthless. We, as followers of Christ, are called to serve as a preservative in the world against corruption and decay. We are also to enhance the flavor of life by exemplifying Christ’s love, joy, and peace.
Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He also calls his followers the light of the world because He dwells in their hearts. Light drives out darkness and enables people to see clearly. We light a lamp to give light to everyone in the room. In the same way, Jesus calls us the light of the world so that we may shine his light to those around us. When he says, “Let your light shine before others,” he is calling us to share God’s truth with the people around us.
As Christians, we are no longer living for ourselves but for the world for which God gave his Son. Christ sends us out into the world as salt and light, to be witnesses of God’s love and concern for humanity, both in our words and through our good deeds.