This is the homily delivered by Fr. Cielito R. Almazan, OFM, minister provincial of the Order of Friars Minor (Province of San Pedro Bautista), during the celebration of the solemnity of our holy father, St. Dominic de Guzman (8 August 2017, Santo Domingo Church, Quezon City).
The gospel informs us, Jesus’ disciples, that “we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world.” Jesus says this right after the beatitudes when he was preaching in Galilee. This passage belongs to a bigger context, in chapters 5-7, entitled Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount does not stop at the eight Beatitudes.Thus when I come across these affirmations, “You are the salt, you are the light of the world,” I am scared because I cannot truly become the salt and light of the world, if I am not completely living the beatitudes. How can I be the salt and light of the world if I am not poor in spirit, not merciful, not meek, not single-hearted, not peacemaker, etc.? It is not only me or single individuals who is addressed here, it is the community. That you is plural, not singular, in Greek. It is us, Dominicans, Franciscans and all other Christians.