You are the light of the world. - Mt 5: 13-16

5th SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME 8 Feb 2026
Today’s Readings (Year A) 1st Reading: Isa 58:7-10
2nd Reading: 1 Cor 2:1-5
Gospel: Matt 5:13-16

Flavour, Preservation & Purity
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.” Matthew 5:13

SALT is one of the most commonly used substances in the world, used for
seasoning, preserving, and purifying. The first notable feature of salt is its ability to
add flavor to food. By calling His disciples the “salt of the earth,” Jesus was instructing
them to enhance the “flavor” of the world by bringing the truth of the Gospel and the
joy of His message to others. A Christian life lived in fidelity to Christ would make the
world a better and more virtuous place, just as salt enhances the flavor of food.
Salt is also commonly used for preservation, and it was especially vital in
ancient times. By being the “salt of the earth,” Jesus was calling His disciples to
preserve the world from moral decay. Through their witness and proclamation of the
Gospel, they were to act as a preservative against sin and spiritual ruin. If they were
to “lose their taste,” they would become indistinguishable from the rest of the world
and ineffective in their mission. Hence, Jesus was exhorting them — and us — to avoid
becoming watered down and bland in our witness to the Gospel. Salt also held a
significant role in Jewish religious practices, symbolizing purity and consecration. By
seasoning their offerings with salt, the Israelites preserved the sacrifices from decay,
making them pure. This practice reflects the disciples’ role in purifying the world
through their example of holiness, their lives of self-sacrifice, and their participation
in Christ’s redemptive work. They were to live lives of integrity, leading others to God
through the purity of their hearts and their unwavering commitment to His will.
Reflect today on this powerful metaphor of being the salt of the earth. The
world desperately needs the enriching “flavor” of God’s grace. Without Him, the world
is left to corruption and decay. With God, we, and those we serve, are preserved as
pure and holy offerings, adding to His glory and growing in holiness. Be the salt of the
earth. Do not become watered down in your faith. Remain steadfast in your fidelity to
Christ and His Gospel, and you will transform the world around you. In doing so, you
will not only glorify God but will also share in His eternal joy. ● My Catholic Life! Inc