Salt and Light of the World

O my God … give me the gift to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, through your mercy and merits of Jesus and Mary. (OOCC, X, p. 652; STA, 313)

Salt and light are two essential items human beings need for their sustenance in the world. Salt adds taste to the food people eat, while light helps people to see things in the world. The most interesting quality of salt and light are that they are noticed only when they are absent. One comes to know what salt is and what it does only when it is missing in the cooked food. Similarly, one comes to realize the nature of light and its function only when the light is absent in a given situation. Thus, salt and light serve people by providing taste to the food and making people see the nature of things respectively, without they themselves being noticed. St. Vincent Pallotti, in his attempt to live the evangelical challenge of being the salt of the earth and light of the world, wanted exactly to be like the salt and the light. He wished to spend his life for others as the salt that brought true happiness in their life and as the light that enlightened them in all their moments of darkness, without anyone knowing anything about it. This was the spirit that directed the life of St. Vincent in whatever he did. By living this gospel spirit, he was able to give joy and enlightenment to many he encountered in his life.

How do I live the evangelical challenge of being the salt of the earth and the light of the world? Do I, like the salt and light, give taste and enlightenment in the life of others? Do I prefer to remain unnoticed, like the salt and light, when I help others?

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? … You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. (Mt. 5: 13-14)