Salt of the earth and light of the world

On the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to read and reflect on a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah (6:1-13) entitled "The call of the prophet Isaiah". Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop. Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347–407) was Archbishop of Constantinople, one of the greatest preachers and biblical teachers of the early Church, whose name "Chrysostom" means "Golden-Mouthed" because of the extraordinary clarity and power of his preaching. He is honored as a saint because of his holiness, courageous defense of Christian truth, concern for the poor, insistence that wealth carries a serious responsibility toward those in need, and his willingness to suffer exile rather than compromise the Gospel; he is also a Doctor of the Church because of the enduring importance of his biblical and theological teaching. He is best known for his preaching, especially his homilies on Scripture and the Eucharist, his condemnation of luxury and neglect of the poor, and his teaching that authentic worship must produce a transformed Christian life. His Homilies on Matthew, delivered at Antioch around A.D. 390, were a series of sermons explaining Matthew's Gospel passage by passage so ordinary Christians could understand Scripture and, above all, put it into practice; Chrysostom consistently moves from explaining what the Gospel means to asking how it should change the believer's conduct, emphasizing repentance, humility, mercy, care for the poor, and faithful imitation of Christ. The Book of Isaiah presents the prophetic voice of Isaiah son of Amoz, who speaks to Judah and Jerusalem during times of moral decline, political threat, and spiritual complacency calling God's people back to covenant faithfulness. Isaiah proclaims that the Holy One of Israel is both just and merciful. Central to the book is the promise that God will act decisively to save His people—not merely through political deliverance, but through a deeper redemption of the heart—culminating in the vision of a coming Messiah, the Suffering Servant, who will bring light to the nations. Isaiah thus holds together judgment and consolation, warning that pride leads to ruin while trust in the Lord leads to peace and revealing a God who remains faithful to His promises and intends salvation for all peoples. In our "treasure" today, from a homily by Saint John Chrysostom, entitled "Salt of the Earth and Light of the World," the central teaching is that Christians are called not merely to become holy themselves but to allow their transformed lives to lead others toward Christ. Reflecting on Matthew 5:13–16, Chrysostom teaches that Jesus entrusts His disciples with responsibility for the spiritual good of the world: like salt, they must preserve what is good and resist corruption; like light, their faith must be visible through virtuous lives and good works rather than hidden or confined to private belief. Because others may come to know God through the witness of Christians, disciples must live with courage, integrity, charity, and holiness even when opposed or criticized. The essential message is that Christ gives us His light not simply for ourselves but so that, through the way we live and serve others, His light may shine through us and draw others to glorify our Father in heaven. The central teaching of our first reading from the book of Isaiah is that an authentic mission from God begins with encountering His holiness, recognizing our own sinfulness, receiving His purification, and then freely responding to His call. In his vision of the Lord surrounded by the seraphim crying, "Holy, holy, holy," Isaiah becomes painfully aware of his unworthiness— "I am a man of unclean lips"—but God does not reject him; instead, the burning coal touches his lips, his guilt is removed, and only then does he hear God ask, "Whom shall I send?" Isaiah responds, "Here I am; send me!" His difficult mission also teaches that faithfulness does not guarantee immediate success, because many will resist God's word; nevertheless, the prophet must persevere, trusting that God will preserve a faithful remnant. The passage therefore teaches that God does not call us because we are already worthy; He purifies and equips those who surrender to Him, then sends them to bear faithful witness regardless of the visible results.