Today's Gospel reading continues Jesus' sermon on the mount, which we embarked upon last week with the beatitudes. Jesus now uses figurative language to explain what it means to be a disciple: we are to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world.

We've been warned, I believe, that eating salt is bad for us. But I still can't resist a little salt on egg and on chips, and I always add some when making pasta. Salt enhances the flavor. So I suppose Jesus is suggesting that our lives as his disciples should improve the quality of other people's lives.

His second image is that of light. For Jesus in his world there was the light of day which scatters the darkness of the night, the light of the moon and stars, the light of candles or oil to illumine the house or to help when travelling at night. For us nowadays, electricity has transformed our world, filling our homes, buildings and streets with brightness. The lighting systems on cars seem to be getting brighter. Mobile phones have a very useful light facility, marvelous when lots of people in a crowd are using them together at Gigs.

In our daily experience light enables us to catch the beauty of the world around us in its bewildering variety of hue, shape, texture and movement. We can distinguish the shades of green in the trees, the shades of grey in the clouds. We can appreciate the bright and subtle colours of the flowers and birds. We can appreciate the skill of artists as they seek to capture such beauty in oil and pastel and water. I'm interested in photography. Light is such an important factor in the creation of a good photo; it can be transformative. I've just read a book in which for each photo the writer notes how long he waited for the right light before pressing the shutter button, sometimes hours, days even.

Light is also a symbol for the enlightenment for the mind and heart, through books, poetry and plays, through cinema, TV and music, through sermons and retreat talks, and now through the internet and social media.

In a different context, against the backdrop of the Jerusalem temple bathed in candlelight during the annual feast of tabernacles, Jesus claimed to be the light of the world. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." Light is linked with revelation. Jesus' life, his actions, his words revealed the compassionate love of God for us, and enlightened us on how we are to live as human beings.

As followers of his we, likewise, he tells us, are to be sources of light for our world, a world in which there is, sadly, much darkness at so many levels these days. If we are to be lights in today's world, we are sent above all to reveal God's love, to make that love present and tangible, to make God known. Jesus states that it is through our good works that we bring light to others, enabling them to praise our heavenly Father, not ourselves.

Isaiah, in today's first reading, lists what these 'good works' might look like. "Share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor." Even here in the UK there are many who are hungry, many who are homeless. "Clothe the person you see to be naked," he continues, "and turn not from your own kin." "Do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word."

Through living like this, the prophet maintains, "your light will shine like the dawn…your light will rise in the darkness."

So, remembering Isaiah, let's renew our commitment to 'let our little light shine', as the song puts it. Through our kindness to others, our helpfulness to the needy, our joy, openness and optimism, through a word of appreciation and encouragement and gratitude, we can brighten and transform someone's day.

At the same time we can share our faith with others, not hide it under a table. We can humbly help them understand better God's presence and love, share with them the values of Jesus. Let's indeed follow the exhortation of Jesus to allow our light to shine.

Reflection by Fr Michael Winstanley SDB

Photo by Mikhail Mamaev on Unsplash