THE SALT OF THE EARTH

THE SALT OF THE EARTH

(June 25)

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be salted? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Mt 5: 13-14)

In ancient Israel, salt was the symbol of a covenant of friendship (cf. Num 18:19 and 2 Chron 13:5), more specifically, a friendship with or of God. This is probably because of the preserving nature of salt, and related to this symbolism is the Slavic custom of greeting a guest with bread, a symbol of life, and salt. Thus the Lord says in Mk 9:50: “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Salt symbolizes good will, and all that good will entails (love, compassion, humility, patience) that sustains a friendship. Salt was very precious in the ancient world, just as true friendship is precious (and rare). Salt also enhances the flavor in various foods, as long as we don’t overdo it, just as friendship brings out the best in us and enhances life.

As followers of Christ, we ourselves are called to be living and walking symbols of God’s good will and goodness toward mankind; we are called to be “the salt of the earth.” But if we slip away from God’s goodness, letting envy, arrogance, resentments, and self-centered fears stifle the “flavor” of His grace in our hearts, then we become “good for nothing,” regardless of how right or righteous are the causes we embrace. Because it is impossible to make a difference, to change the “flavor” of our world, without the “salt” of His grace. Let me remember this at this time, in this election year, when our causes sometimes threaten to destroy our true friendships. Let me open up to God this morning, in a bit of heartfelt prayer, that I may be humbly useful, and not arrogantly useless, to my world. “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner.”