Truthful and sincere, Jesus seeks the glory of the one who has sent him.  His true disciples cannot help but give glory, truthful and sincere, to the Father through their good works. 

Jesus calls his disciples the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Hence, he hints that to be a disciple means, in essence, to give glory to the Father (see 1 Cor 10, 31).

It is because, just like their Master, the disciples live with other folks.  And when their good works catch the attention of other folks, these see the Father’s presence.  In this way, they give glory to the Father.

Of course, such vision of the Father’s presence would not take place should the disciples not live with others.  The disciples would be like salt that is just in a container.  It is of no use:  it does not give taste to food, nor does it keep things from spoiling or rotting.  As for the light, one cannot cover it or hide it.  Or those out there in the dark will have no light and will lose their bearings.

So, yes, the disciples are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Yet they are so just when they come into contact with others.  The disciples do not do as the Baptist who withdrew to the desert.  They do not do as the Essenes of Qumran who said they were “children of the light,” but lived by themselves.  Apart from the rest of the people.

The disciples do rather as Jesus.  He goes about all Galilee to cure the sick and to ease others’ suffering.  He is not a harsh judge who condemns and punishes.  As they follow him, the disciples unawares make for others savoring life and not rotting.  These others, in turn, become aware of God being in their midst.  And they give glory to him.

Lord Jesus, make us give glory to you alone and trample underfoot human respect and self-interest (SV.EN IV:480).  We shall thus be truthful and sincere like you, self-emptying to giving up your body and shedding your blood.  Grant that we do not call attention to ourselves.  Nor claim to give taste to life or keep things from spoiling, nor to shed light or wisdom, but just to be salt and light.  So as to leave it to others to see our good works, to say that God is in their midst.  And give us the grace to do good works that will make light rise for us in the dark.

8 February 2026
5th Sunday in 0.T. (A)
Is 58, 7-10; 1 Cor 2, 1-5; Mt 5, 13-16