Being "salt" of the earth and "light" of the world
"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." (Matthew 5:13–16) These verses, from the Sermon on the Mount, form a foundational declaration of Christian identity and mission. Spoken by Christ to His disciples immediately after the Beatitudes, they reveal the essential vocation of those who live the Gospel: to be both salt and light in the world. These metaphors are not accidental; they are deliberate and profound. Salt preserves, purifies, and enhances flavor. Light reveals, guides, and dispels darkness. Through these images, Jesus call...