5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - Salt and Light: Simple Signs, Sacred Work & “Earthen Vessels”

This weekend’s Gospel does not overwhelm us with complicated instructions. Instead, Jesus places two simple images in our hands—things we know well, things we use every day: salt and light. And then, quietly but firmly, He says: this is who you are.

Salt rarely draws attention to itself. It works silently, almost invisibly. Yet without it, food spoils and flavor fades. Before modern refrigeration, salt preserved what would otherwise be lost. In the same way, Christ calls us to help preserve what is good, true, and beautiful in our world—to resist what corrodes the human heart.

But salt does more than preserve. It brings life to a meal. It wakes up what is already there. Our faith, then, is not meant to be bland or burdensome. When lived well, it adds joy, mercy, patience, and courage to the lives we touch. Like salt stirred into a pot, goodness does its best work when it blends in—quietly, steadily, lovingly.

Then Jesus speaks of Light. A lamp on a stand. A city glowing on a hill. Light does not argue. It simply shines—and in doing so, it makes the way visible. Christ reminds us that we are not the source of the light. We reflect it. His light warms, reveals, and guides, especially for those walking through shadows.

But how does this look in real life?

The prophet Isaiah brings us down to earth: feed the hungry, welcome the homeless, clothe the naked. In other words, let your faith take flesh. When love moves from the heart to the hands, Isaiah promises, “…your light shall rise in the darkness.” Generosity, then, is not just something we do—it is someone we become.

We learn this generosity by watching others who have quietly shone into our own lives. And we learn it most perfectly by fixing our eyes on Jesus. In Him, the Father’s generosity is made visible. He is the Light that enters our darkness, the Salt that heals what sin has spoiled. Through Him, we no longer hide, but stand before God and say, “Here I am.”

You don’t need to be extraordinary to be salt and light—only faithful. A small act of kindness, a patient word, a generous gesture offered in Christ can preserve goodness and brighten someone’s path. This week, ask yourself: Where can I add a little flavor? Where can I let His light shine—quietly, lovingly, and without fear?

In honor of this weekend’s Gospel, we would like to share our latest video, “Earthen Vessels”. Written by John Foley, SJ of the St. Louis Jesuits, the first verse reminds us that ‘Light has shone in our darkness: God has shone in our heart, with the light of the glory of Jesus, the Lord.”

Video can be watched by clicking here or by clicking on the thumbnail below.