Love God. Live the Eucharist.

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5A February 9, 2014, by Fr. Kevin Anderson

I bet that there is one thing that each of your household has in its cupboard . . . salt.  [Hold up a container of salt] It could be of various forms: table salt, sea salt, kosher salt, rock salt, pickling salt, seasoned salt, but it’s one term Jesus used to identified his followers.  He says, “You are salt of the earth.”

He does not say we “will be” salt.  Nor does is say we can be salt “if . . “  No, we are salt right now.   But what does that mean?

In the time of Jesus, salt was very important.  It was used as a preservative. It was a way that food could be preserved and not go bad. Well currently, we, as Christians, are called to preserve the goodness of the gospel.  What is that gospel message?

Well, consider that this gospel text comes right after the legendary text called the Beatitudes.  We did not hear it last week because the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord super-ceded the normal 4th Sunday of Ordinary time readings.  However, Jesus’ words today make more sense when we remember to hear them in light of the Beatitudes.  Jesus says to us:  Blessed are you when you are poor, blessed are you when you are merciful, blessed are you when you hunger for justice. 

The second characteristic of salt is that it appears ordinary [hold a piece of salt in my hand] but if we look at it closely, like under a microscope [show a microscope and look into it] . . .  a piece of salt looks like a diamond or a fine gem.

It’s as if God looks at each of us closely and sees a great diamond or gem.  Of course we say, “Oh no, for I know so many things wrong with me . . . my faults and sins.”  Even in the Mass, during the Fraction Rite (which happens just before Communion) we say, “Lord I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.”  Of course we are not worthy; we are all sinners. God knows us.  God knows all our sins and faults, but still Jesus calls us salt. 

Pope Francis explains this when he says of himself, “I am a loved sinner.”  God sees us closely and sees a gem.  We cannot create God loves.  We cannot create salt; we simple accept it.  It is just there.  God love of us is just there even with our faults and sins.

The third characteristic of salt is that it is a spice.  It adds spice to food.  Our lives as Christians are to be of joy.  Pope Francis in his document called “Gospel of Joy” complains that too many of us act as if they are in Lent all the time . . . with no Easter.  Sure things can be rough, but we are salt . .. . that is, sometimes it doesn’t take much to add a special touch to a situation.  For example, a smile, a kind hello, a hug.   We are to add spice to life. 

Fourthly, salt brings out the best in food.  Salt enhances food.  Our task is to bring out the best in others.  Brene Brown, from Houston University has done research on relationships.  She says that “connection” is our main purpose in life.  That is, to connect with one another, with life, with God. 

Shame is the fear of disconnection. That is, “We all fear that is there something about me that if other people know it or see it, then I won’t be worthy of connection?’  We all have it, but not many talk about it.

Brene’s research says that those who can bring out the best in others do so because they have:

-the courage to be imperfect

-the compassion to be kind to themselves first and then to others

             (we can’t practice compassion if we can’t treat ourselves kindly)

-a connection as a result of authenticity

            (they let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they were)

-the willingness to be vulnerable (which made them beautiful)

            For example    the willingness to say, “I love you first”

                                    to do something where there are no guarantees

                                    to invest in a relationship that may or may not work out.

We are salt as Jesus says.  But what good is it if it is thrown out and trampled underfoot? 

You are the salt of the earth . . . what are you going to do with your saltiness?

 

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