November 9, 2020
Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” – Mark 9:50
For those who struggle with high blood pressure, and aren’t able to enjoy as much salt anymore, I apologize.
Salt is one of those natural occurring compounds that makes everything better. For centuries, salt was used to help preserve food, especially meat, and of course adds wonderful flavor. It’s hard to image some food without salt. Yes, I know it is possible to cook and eat those foods, but given the choice, I will choose to add the salt. Salt, though it has it’s own flavor, also works to amplify the flavors of the food on which it is put. In much the same way, Jesus uses salt as an analogy for the amplification of our actions.
In the nineth chapter of Mark, Jesus is giving a series of lessons to his disciples after the transfiguration (when Peter, James, and John beheld the glory of Jesus as the Son of Man on the mountain top). In these lessons, Jesus is answering the questions that seem to trouble the disciples. John asks a question about others who are casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds by saying “whoever is not against us in for us” (9:40). Then Jesus goes on to say that anyone who does a good deed, “offers a cup of water to drink” will not lose the reward. Those who do good, do what is right or righteous, who work for peace are ‘salted’ by the name of Christ, in other words their good deeds amplify the goodness of God.
Jesus then warns about those who become stumbling blocks and temptations to sin, and how it is better to enter the kingdom maimed than have the entirety thrown into the fire. In their own way, these actions are salted, but they amplify destruction.
Everyone has the opportunity to use the ‘salt’ of life in a way that amplifies the goodness of God or the destruction that is to come. Salt, Jesus says, is good, but it can lose its appeal, its luster if it no longer brings about peace, joy, and love. The beginning of bringing out the goodness of God is learning to live at peace with yourself, with those around you, and even those whom you may disagree. Peace is the salt in which our nation and world needs as we seek to amply the goodness of God, today, and every day.
Grace & Peace be to you,
Sam