HOMILY
Disabilities Mass –5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 8, 2026
“You are the salt of the earth. … You are the light of the world.” … Interesting words from Jesus that are referenced in various ways in three of the four gospels: Matthew, as we heard a moment ago, and Mark and Luke. Yet, what could Jesus possibly want us to consider in calling us to be salt and light?
Did you ever eat a handful of salt or swallow some ocean water? By itself, salt isn’t particularly appealing. It might even make you sick. … Or did you ever look directly at the sun or into a bright light bulb? If you have, chances are that you didn’t do so for too long. We know from anticipating the solar eclipse that took place a few years ago that even staring briefly at the sun can damage our eyes.
Salt and light, of themselves, are not good for very much and can even be harmful. Their value is realized only when they interact with other things.
Just a few ounces of salt in our bodies enable our muscles to contract, our blood to circulate and our hearts to beat. Salt purifies, cleans and preserves. In these days, we appreciate that it is used for de-icing. And a handful of salt can bring out the natural flavor in every kind of food, from a piece of meat to a barrel of popcorn. … But by itself, salt does very little.
The same thing can be said of light. Its true value and beauty are realized only when we look away from its source toward what it illuminates. Light transforms the cold, uncertainty of night into the warm assurance of day. Light enables us to discover, to study, to discern, to behold the beauty of our world and the wonders of God’s creation. Light warms, nurtures, sustains and reveals.
Simply put, salt is the humblest of all chemicals; light is among the most generous of all physical properties. In calling us to be salt and light, Jesus asks us to embrace that same humility and generosity and to look beyond ourselves in a selfless manner.
In being the “salt of the earth,” Jesus calls us not merely to be virtuous ourselves but to bring out goodness and love in all those he places within our lives. He challenges us to bring forth the flavor of God in everyone and everything.
In being “light for the world,” Jesus invites us to illuminate our world with the presence of God and to see in the most unexpected places the richness and depth of God’s mercy and love.
Ultimately, my friends, what lies at the heart of these two familiar images in the scriptures that come to us from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount is a focus on the very identity of Jesus’ followers. Essentially, Jesus reminds us, “If you seek to be my disciples, take the blessings of faith that have emerged in your lives through baptism and give them away as the surest means of growing the Kingdom of God and inviting others to recognize the power, the presence and the very life of God in their own lives.”
What a powerful message the Word of God offers for our consideration on this day in which we gather in prayer to celebrate the boundless love that God has imparted to each of us – a love that is seen most vividly in the lives of our sisters and brothers with developmental disabilities. More than you realize, my good friends, you teach us what it means to be “salt and light” for our world.
With humility and generosity, like salt, you have the miraculous ability to prod us to be more than we ever believed possible – to bring out goodness in our lives and love beyond imagining in our mutual service and care for one another.
You illuminate our world and our hearts in such ways that even the most cynical among us can see the presence of God in the simplest gestures and in the most unexpected places. Often with few words and with your infectious smiles, you teach us lessons of gratitude for the simplest of blessings. You remind us of the true treasures of life, of faith and of love.
Over the years, some of you have heard me talk about my cousin Jason. He relocated from the west coast back home to northeastern Pennsylvania with his mother around forty years ago and has lived at Saint Joseph’s Center for most of those years. Prior to their return to Pennsylvania, Jason’s mom would often say to me that he was “a powerhouse of love.” While I always appreciated her sentiments, they seemed to me to be much more words of affection that any mother would share about a child – especially one with some significant challenges. It was only when I got to know Jason when he moved to the area years ago that I realized just how true my cousin’s description of her son was. His life, in his own unique way, is filled with a depth of love, affection and an openness to everyone. There is never judgment – or criticism – or expectations. Just gratitude and love.
Pope Leo put it best when speaking recently about of those with disabilities. “The quality of human life is not dependent upon achievement. The quality of our lives is dependent upon love.” … And we surely learn about life and love best from my cousin Jason and from so, so many of our brothers and sisters whom we honor today, who are “salt and light” – hope and love for our world.
Thank you for serving us through your lives and for teaching us how to believe, to trust and to love with the generous, selfless spirit of Jesus.