Matthew 5:13–16: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its savor, how shall it be salted? It is then good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.
Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Those who have been formed by the blessings just spoken are now declared to be sent forth for the good of others. For salt is not given for itself, but that by its savor it may preserve what would otherwise decay; and so those are called the salt of the earth who are appointed to restrain corruption among men who are inclined to earthly things. But if they themselves lose the savor of wisdom, by what shall they be restored? There remains no remedy for those who were chosen to correct others, if they themselves are corrupted. It is not said that they shall be cast out by men, but that they shall be trodden under foot; for by fearing those who persecute them, they themselves place themselves beneath those very feet.
They are also called the light of the world, because by the truth they enlighten those who dwell in darkness and love the world. As a city set on a hill cannot be hidden, so neither can that life be concealed which is founded on great and distinguished righteousness. For the mountain upon which the Lord speaks signifies this very height of righteousness, to which those who hear and keep His words are raised.
But if anyone, from fear of bodily inconvenience or temporal loss, should hide the doctrine he has received, he puts the lamp under a bushel. Whether the bushel be taken simply as concealment, or as signifying the measure of bodily recompense, the meaning is the same: one subordinates divine truth to temporal advantage, placing what is eternal beneath what is measured and passing. The light is rightly set upon a candlestick when the body is made subject to the soul, and the soul to God, so that even the works done through the body serve to manifest the doctrine that is preached.
Yet lest anyone should seek the praise of men from the brightness of his works, it is added, that they may glorify your Father who is in heaven. Thus the light is shown, not for self-exaltation, but that God may be honored. For the servant of God shines before men in such a way that those who see him do not stop at the work, but pass through it to Him from whom all good proceeds.
Source: St. Augustine, On the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, Book I, Chapters 6–7
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