Before there were refrigerators

Jesus said to his disciples:  “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[ they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5: 13-16)

Just as salt was used to store food (before refrigerators existed), so the work of Jesus's disciples is to preserve humanity from spiritual corruption caused by sin. To this end, however, it is necessary that Jesus’s disciples proclaim the Gospel with their own words and personal witness. Let us ask ourselves tonight, during our examination of conscience, whether we have the same integrity of Jesus’s disciples. We must ask ourselves whether we have become like the salt that has lost its flavour. If so, perhaps then we have become obstacles for others who are making their way to God.