Mt 5: 13-16
You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved. http://www.usccb.org/bible/approved-translations
Salt and Life
Salt was of vital importance in Jesus’ time, imperative to enhancing flavor and to preserve food in a desert climate with no refrigeration. Still today salt is of utter importance. Recently thawed by the warmth of June we recall the intense cold that gripped most of our country, freezing our communities and leading to widespread closures. Our streets still glimmer with salt residue, which equipped us with the means to carry on with our daily tasks.
Just how are we called to be salt that melts the ice and opens the pathway? In today’s culture we see many forms of ice that isolate us and require melting. Instead of seeking ‘Easy Street’ we are called as faithful Christians to take the higher road by examining our behavior, melting the ice of self -seeking narcissism, empty promises of immediate gratification, and contentment with the status quo.
Jesus calls each of us to this higher road by finding the unique flavor of our salt. To go out to be the salt of humility that melts resentment and leads to reconciliation, the salt of justice that melts oppression and brings peace, and the salt that of love that melts the coldness of indifference.
—Matthew Lieser, S.J. is a Jesuit scholastic studying philosophy at Loyola University Chicago.
Prayer
The Risen Christ is with us this day,and he continues to need each one of you.
Jesus needs your eyes to continue to see.
He needs your strength to continue to work.
He needs your voice to continue to preach.
He needs your hands to continue to bless.
He needs your heart to continue to love.
And Jesus needs your whole being to continue to build up his body, the Church.
As we believe, so let us live!
—Cardinal Joseph Bernardin