February 6, 2005: Salt of the Earth

+ The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time


When I went home after Christmas a couple of years ago, I discovered to my surprise that the house was filled with all kinds of fancy objects made of glass and ceramics—stuff that came from auctions, estate sales, flea markets, garage sales and the like. It seems that several members of my family had discovered eBay—that do-it-yourself, on-line auction operation. Collecting is a huge business these days. I’m always surprised when I hear the prices that some items fetch.

As I’m sure you know, people collect everything: stamps and coins, thimbles, buttons, bottles, rare books, glassware—you name it. Before the computer age—and even today, for that matter—folks might come together at an exhibit hall to buy and sell and trade their favorite collectibles.

One time, a group of collectors decided to hold an exhibit in a Catholic parish hall. One of the parish societies ran a little snack bar as a way to make a little extra money. One visitor bought a cup of coffee and a hamburger, and he was walking around as he ate. Just as he passed a collection of salt and pepper shakers—a couple of hundred of them—he realized that his hamburger could use some salt. He set his coffee down and reached for a salt shaker. No salt. He tried at least a dozen salt shakers. No salt in any of them! Finally, he went back to the food stand to get his salt.

A couple of hundred salt shakers but no salt! Isn’t that a picture of life? Too many people who are supposed to have “salt” actually do not have it. This image may help us to understand what Jesus is talking about today when He says to His disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.”

The same way that a spoonful of salt spreads itself all through a kettle of soup, that’s how every Christian must spread his influence to all the people he meets every day.

Look how many people we meet whose lives are dull, tasteless, meaningless. Like a hamburger or soup without any salt, their existence is flat—without meaning or purpose. But, by the things we say and do, and the way we say it and do it, we can be “salt” for those who find life tasteless!

Did you know that salt has about 1,400 different chemical and commercial uses, apart from preserving and seasoning food? Maybe that’s why in the ancient world, salt was considered so valuable that it was even used as money. The word “salary” comes from the Latin word salarium, which meant the money given to Roman soldiers so they could buy salt.

For instance, salt can be used as an antiseptic—that’s even in the Bible (Ezek. 43, 24). I have seen it applied to reduce the swelling of a bee sting. The symbolism is clear: the evils of the world can be cured or at least lessened by the application of the salt of our faith.

Just as salt preserves food from decay and corruption, so do we—as followers of Jesus Christ—help to preserve the people we meet from corrupt, false answers to all the important questions of life.

In all the sacrifices of the Old Testament, salt played a part. An agreement of salt meant an agreement of friendship. In fact, in many cultures, salt is a symbol of friendship. The salt of our faith must make us friendly, even with the unfriendly and the unfriendliness we sometimes encounter. Christ wants us to be that kind of salt.

Our Lord also wants us to season our speech with salt—in the sense that we must speak with intelligence and wisdom and understanding, which comes from faith in Him (Col. 4, 6).

Jesus says in St. Mark’s Gospel: “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” (Mk. 9, 50). Most likely, Christ is referring to salt as the charity which seasons the relations that people should have with each other. Do we have that kind of salt in our system? How sad and tasteless life can be without it.

The covenant which God made with His people (Num. 18, 19) must be pure, lasting, strong and pleasant. These are the characteristics of good salt. That’s why it was used in that divine agreement.

Charity, friendship, peace, faith, understanding—salt is a sign of all of these virtues. And we, as Christians, are especially charged with carrying this salt everywhere we go.

May we be good and faithful Catholics who always bring our salt to Mass… and may we always pray to get a new supply from Mass, so we can leave this sacred place and carry these precious gifts of the Holy Spirit to everyone we meet.

May God bless you always—and fill you with His holy salt!


Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 58, 7–10
Psalm 112
1 Corinthians 2, 1–5
Matthew 5, 13–16