The true test of genuine discipleship is possible only when the disciples of Jesus face the world. The disciples of Jesus Christ have to confront the world with equanimity. Equanimity is a direct result of the disciples practicing self-control. For, persecution and calumny may accompany them in their mission. Since they live by faith, their strength comes from within and not from the world. The world accepts and honors only those who are conformed to its ways and standards of action (John,15:18-19). Those who are conformed to the ways and standards set by Jesus and his mission of salvation to the world are on the road to persecution and calumny (Matthew, 5:11). The response of the disciples of Jesus should be one of joy because of their great reward in heaven as the prophets before them too were persecuted (Matthew,5:12). This reward in heaven is but an unlimited and enhanced love, joy and peace the disciples already experience here and now in this world. For, Jesus himself inaugurated the kingdom of heaven here on earth to be fully manifested in the world to come.
Jesus compared the disciples to salt and light in the manner in which they should accomplish their mission. They are the salt of the earth (Matthew, 5:13) and light of the world (Matthew,5:14-16). Salt has value because of its capacity to preserve food items from decay as well as its quality of flavor enhancer. Devoid of these qualities, salt is fit only to be thrown out to be trampled upon by everyone. Similar is the case with the disciples of Jesus who have a mission to announce the Good News inaugurated by Jesus himself. Being salt of the earth, the disciples should try to protect their surroundings from ungodly people bent on corrupting society (Psalm, 14:3; Romans, 8: 8). This presupposes that the disciples are not only incorruptible themselves, but also proactive in bringing about a corruption-free society. The measure of success in this endeavor is not merely positive results achieved, but specially the sound attitude of the disciples. The other quality of salt as a flavor enhancer is fulfilled in the disciples when they try to enhance the flavor of life by bringing order in a disorderly world (Luke, 6: 35).
The disciples should also be the light of the world by shining in the dark world through the Word of God as well as their life by means of good deeds (Matthew,5:14-16; John, 1:1-14). Our deeds should be in accordance with the Beatitudes announced by Jesus (Matthew, 5:3-10) so that the people would glorify the Father in heaven, seeing how we live. The disciples living in the world should not be so identified with the world as to blur the distinction between them and the world. This distinction is not so much manifested through the external appearances as through the expression of our internal dispositions by means of good deeds.
The disciples should not forget that Jesus, the master, is the ultimate source of the light of the world as he is himself the Light (John, 8:12). Jesus is the light of the world enlightening every person coming into the world (John, 1:9; 3:19) and yet some people prefer darkness to light. It is because their deeds are evil that they shun the light that is meant to help us see right and lead us to life (John,3:20; Isaiah,9:2). Each person is created by God with the basic capacity of light as each one is an image and likeness of God (Genesis,1:26). This capacity is put into active use through the words and example of Jesus enlightening us on the way to eternal life. Thus Jesus remains the light of the whole world both by his life and by his death and resurrection along with his ascension to the Father in heaven.
We should beware of obstacles to our saltiness and capacity to be the light to everyone we meet. Lack of peace can destroy the saltiness in us (Mark, 9:50). Failure to daily take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly can also destroy saltiness in us (Luke, 14:34-35). Our selfish acts may bear counter testimony to our mission of being light of the world. To remain salt of the earth and light of the world, a disciple has to remain focused on Christ and be totally obedient to him in keeping his commandments. No one deserves the name 'disciple' unless one is totally under the spell of the master who is perfection itself.
Good deeds have a cardinal role to play in our becoming the light of the world. To achieve the intended purpose of enlightening others, our deeds must proceed from good intentions and without expecting any reward from anyone. The desire to gain name and fame or wealth through our deeds of a spiritual nature is utterly foreign to the idea of being the light of the world and should be banished from our minds. It does not mean that one should not strive to earn name, fame and wealth through one's actions, but only that they should not contradict our spiritual values. The motive should be solely to please the master who would reward us at his own discretion. This kind of attitude and behavior from the disciples will lead to the glorification of the Father in heaven by the people who witness them as taught by Jesus.
Jesus compared the disciples to salt and light in the manner in which they should accomplish their mission. They are the salt of the earth (Matthew, 5:13) and light of the world (Matthew,5:14-16). Salt has value because of its capacity to preserve food items from decay as well as its quality of flavor enhancer. Devoid of these qualities, salt is fit only to be thrown out to be trampled upon by everyone. Similar is the case with the disciples of Jesus who have a mission to announce the Good News inaugurated by Jesus himself. Being salt of the earth, the disciples should try to protect their surroundings from ungodly people bent on corrupting society (Psalm, 14:3; Romans, 8: 8). This presupposes that the disciples are not only incorruptible themselves, but also proactive in bringing about a corruption-free society. The measure of success in this endeavor is not merely positive results achieved, but specially the sound attitude of the disciples. The other quality of salt as a flavor enhancer is fulfilled in the disciples when they try to enhance the flavor of life by bringing order in a disorderly world (Luke, 6: 35).
The disciples should also be the light of the world by shining in the dark world through the Word of God as well as their life by means of good deeds (Matthew,5:14-16; John, 1:1-14). Our deeds should be in accordance with the Beatitudes announced by Jesus (Matthew, 5:3-10) so that the people would glorify the Father in heaven, seeing how we live. The disciples living in the world should not be so identified with the world as to blur the distinction between them and the world. This distinction is not so much manifested through the external appearances as through the expression of our internal dispositions by means of good deeds.
The disciples should not forget that Jesus, the master, is the ultimate source of the light of the world as he is himself the Light (John, 8:12). Jesus is the light of the world enlightening every person coming into the world (John, 1:9; 3:19) and yet some people prefer darkness to light. It is because their deeds are evil that they shun the light that is meant to help us see right and lead us to life (John,3:20; Isaiah,9:2). Each person is created by God with the basic capacity of light as each one is an image and likeness of God (Genesis,1:26). This capacity is put into active use through the words and example of Jesus enlightening us on the way to eternal life. Thus Jesus remains the light of the whole world both by his life and by his death and resurrection along with his ascension to the Father in heaven.
We should beware of obstacles to our saltiness and capacity to be the light to everyone we meet. Lack of peace can destroy the saltiness in us (Mark, 9:50). Failure to daily take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly can also destroy saltiness in us (Luke, 14:34-35). Our selfish acts may bear counter testimony to our mission of being light of the world. To remain salt of the earth and light of the world, a disciple has to remain focused on Christ and be totally obedient to him in keeping his commandments. No one deserves the name 'disciple' unless one is totally under the spell of the master who is perfection itself.
Good deeds have a cardinal role to play in our becoming the light of the world. To achieve the intended purpose of enlightening others, our deeds must proceed from good intentions and without expecting any reward from anyone. The desire to gain name and fame or wealth through our deeds of a spiritual nature is utterly foreign to the idea of being the light of the world and should be banished from our minds. It does not mean that one should not strive to earn name, fame and wealth through one's actions, but only that they should not contradict our spiritual values. The motive should be solely to please the master who would reward us at his own discretion. This kind of attitude and behavior from the disciples will lead to the glorification of the Father in heaven by the people who witness them as taught by Jesus.
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