CALLED TO THE POTENCY OF THE SALT AND THE COURAGE OF THE FLAME
Matthew 5:13-16

Jijo Kandamkulathy CMF
Claretian Missionaries

We live in a world that deeply believes in the leverage of power—in networks that move markets, in structures that shape nations, in platforms that amplify ideologies. Influence is often measured by scale: the size of the audience, the magnitude of the budget, the force of the narrative. It is into this world, then, that Jesus speaks a quiet, subversive, and stunning paradox. He gathers a small band of ordinary disciples—fishermen, tax collectors, uncertain followers—and does not tell them to build a movement or seize an institution. Instead, he looks at them, this seemingly insignificant group, and declares: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

The real change, he insists, will not come from dominating the systems from above, but from transforming the substance of life from within. God’s strategy for renewing the world rests not primarily in the halls of power, but in the hidden, potent faithfulness of his few who live the gospel values. What a revolutionary thought: the future of humanity is seasoned and illumined not by the mighty, but by the modest; not by the overwhelming force of the many, but by the essential quality of love of the committed few.

The Potency of the Little Pinch
Consider salt. A dish may contain pounds of ingredients, but it is transformed by a mere teaspoon of salt. That small amount doesn’t dominate; it doesn’t become the soup or the bread. Instead, it disappears into the whole, doing its quiet work from within. It draws out the hidden goodness already present, making the entire meal come alive.
This is our Christian calling. We are not called to be the entire meal, to constitute the whole world. We are that necessary pinch. In a family, a workplace, a neighborhood, we are the few who are called to blend in, yet without losing our essence. Our presence—marked by grace, patience, integrity, and hope—is meant to draw out the latent goodness in others, to preserve what is true and beautiful from decay, and to make the experience of life in our community more humane, more “tasteful.” The world can be bland, consumed with haste, anxiety, and self-interest. Our lives, seasoned with the love of Christ, are to add the flavor of peace, deliberate kindness, and enduring meaning.

The Courage of the Single Flame
Now consider light. Jesus speaks of a city on a hill, but let’s hold the simpler image: a single lamp in a dark room. When you enter a darkened space, you do not need a blazing stadium light. One small candle, one humble lamp, is enough to push back the darkness. It defines the space, reveals the path, and creates an atmosphere of warmth and safety.
But light does more than just push back darkness; it allows us to see things in their proper form and true value. In dim light, a coiled rope on a path might startle us, appearing as a snake. Fear and confusion reign. But when full light falls upon it, we see it for what it is—harmless, a tool, perhaps something to be picked up and used. The light changes everything. It dispels illusion and reveals reality.

This is the deeper purpose of being “the light of the world.” The Gospel we carry is not just a warm glow; it is a clarifying truth. It helps us, and those around us, see the world with right perspective. In its light, we learn to distinguish the eternally valuable from the temporarily glittering. We see people not as tools or obstacles, but as beloved images of God. We see suffering not as mere tragedy, but as a place where grace can enter. We see success not as the pinnacle of life, but as a stewardship. Our lived witness—through our choices, our calm, our priorities—can become that clarifying light for others, helping them see past the world’s illusions to the enduring truth of God’s love and order.

“Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel basket.” To hide a light is a contradiction. Its purpose is to shine. For us, this means our faith is not a private treasure to be hoarded, but a gift to be shared from the lampstand of our daily lives. Our “light” is the gentle glow of good deeds and a life ordered by Gospel values: the patience we extend, the forgiveness we offer, the dignity we affirm. One such light in a room changes everything. It allows others to see clearly, to navigate their own way, and ultimately, to look past the lamp itself to the source of all light and clarity—our Heavenly Father.

Jesus assures us it does. His strategy for transforming the world has always worked from the inside out, through the few for the many. He doesn’t ask us to become the ocean, but to be salt. He doesn’t ask us to become the sun, but to be a faithful, clarifying lamp. Our power lies not in our volume, but in our Christ-given nature.

Do not underestimate the potency of your presence. Where has God placed you as that essential pinch of salt? In what room of your life are you called to be the steady, gentle light that reveals true value? Live your identity with quiet confidence. Blend in with love, but do not lose your savor. Shine from your unique lampstand, and do not hide. For it is through these small, faithful witnesses that the whole world is seasoned, illuminated, and brought into the clarity of God’s loving gaze.

© Claretian Publications, Macau
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica