Your light must shine so that when people see your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven. St. Alphonsus Liguori whose memory the Church honors today is recognized for his contribution in the field of moral theology and his devotion both to our Lady and to the Eucharist. His work as a moral theologian earned him the title of ‘Doctor of the Church’ (he is considered a master of moral theology) and a patron saint of confessors and moral theologians. In addition to founding the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), St. Alphonsus is also renowned for his zeal for the poor and the sick. The choice of today’s Gospel passage was perhaps considered because of this last trait of his.
After giving what has been labeled as his version of the Ten Commandments, Jesus proceeds to remind his disciples what was required of them. Their acceptance of Jesus’ message had given them a responsibility: they could not afford to remain in the shadows any longer. They had to come out and realize their potential as proclaimers of the Good News of God’s visitation (Israel had been given this responsibility but she had not carried it out fully). As Jesus’ disciples, they were to continue the mission of the prophets of old, the mission of making God present to the people. Only God could bring ‘taste’ to a world that was slowly losing its ‘sting.’ The values that had set them apart as the elected of God were being trodden underfoot. It was time that this community got its ‘groove’ back, and their first order of business, if they were to realize this goal, was to re-order and prioritize their values.   
St. Alphonsus’ ministry to the poor and the sick was undertaken in imitation of his master, Jesus Christ. He heard the words of Jesus that we hear in today’s Gospel reading as if they were addressed to him. No group of individuals were badly in need of the Good News than the poor and the sick. They needed to experience in their lives the relief and joy that comes with the news of God’s visitation. They needed to be loved, taken care of, and treated with dignity that was theirs by right. This is what Jesus did when he ministered to people, and this is what St. Alphonsus was intent on doing as a follower of Jesus.