Tuesday, February 10, 2026: “The just person is a light in darkness” (cf. Ps 112:4) Frequently, a remarkably trustworthy, honest, and dependable person invites the characterization as being “the salt of the earth.” Such an individual has staying power in the community and is the one whom others turn to when the going gets rough. Jesus also uses the metaphor of salt, along with light, to say something about the nature of his followers. When he describes them as “salt” and also as “the light of the world,” he is not telling his disciples something they must become. Jesus is informing them and us that, as his disciples, this is what they and we already are. Like salt’s capacity to enhance food and bring out its full flavor, those who have encountered Jesus and live according to his teachings act to enhance others’ lives and bring about the best in those individuals. Additionally, salt in the ancient world had always functioned as a preservative, ensuring the freshness of...