The Sermon on the Mount | Part 2: Salt & Light | Homily for the 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

In this second homily of our Sermon on the Mount series, Deacon Chris reflects on one of Jesus’ most direct and challenging teachings: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”

Jesus does not offer these words as a future goal or an abstract ideal. He speaks them as a statement of reality. Because we are baptized into Christ, this is already our identity. The question, then, is not whether we are salt and light—but whether our lives actually taste of Christ and shine with His presence.

Using a vivid and memorable image from a college geology class, Deacon Chris explores how salt can lose its savor—not by trying to fail, but by becoming diluted. In the same way, our discipleship is often weakened not by rejection of faith, but by comfort, fear, distraction, exhaustion, or the desire to stay “polite” and unnoticed.

Drawing from Isaiah, St. Paul, and the Gospel of Matthew, this homily makes the call to holiness concrete. Light breaks into the world when we feed the hungry, shelter the vulnerable, refuse to turn away from those in need, and allow our lives to make God visible—not ourselves impressive.

This episode also offers a practical spiritual response: consecration. Rather than trying to design holiness on our own, we are invited to place our lives under the care of those who already belonged completely to Christ.

St. Joseph Consecration (33 Days)
A powerful path for men—and for anyone drawn to St. Joseph’s hidden fidelity, strength, and obedience.
Learn more and begin here:
https://consecrationtostjoseph.org/

Daily prayers PDF:
https://uploads.weconnect.com/mce/c3cf396907a036a9172fc9fcf77650c279dd98b9/33-Days-of-Prayers-and-Daily-Challenge%20ENGLISH.pdf

Marian Consecration (33 Days to Morning Glory)
A beautiful way to learn from Our Lady how to receive Christ, stand firm in love, and reflect His light to the world.
Text available here:
https://nanoten.com/religious/texts/33DMG/index-en.html

As you listen, consider praying with these questions this week:
Where has my discipleship been diluted?
Where have I covered the light God has placed in me?
Who in my life am I being invited to love more concretely?

Jesus does not name us salt and light to shame us—but to reveal who we truly are and to restore what has been hidden or weakened. May this homily help you uncover the lamp, recover the savor, and live in such a way that others glorify our Heavenly Father.