How much do we really think about salt? For most of us, not much. It’s just something we usually have available at our dining table or on the counter top while cooking. Some of us have to watch how much salt is in our diet due to medical conditions. We also use salt for other purposes, such as to deice the walks and driveways during this winter season.
Salt, however, is an incredible substance. Just a little bit can bring out lots of flavor in our foods. It can work as a preservative for foods that we might want to keep from spoiling for months or even years. It dilutes into water and lowers the temperature where ice forms, which is why we use it on our walks, while also raising the boiling point. Salt is a very simple substance that affects everything it touches, but often becomes invisible while doing it.
Looking at it this way, it’s easy to see why Our Lord called us to be the salt of the earth. As Christians, we are called to influence the world subtly, not drawing attention to ourselves, but allowing our quiet influence to bring out the “flavor” of Christ in the world. We are called to preserve that which is good and holy, protecting it from the destructive elements of sin. Our influence can keep our culture from becoming “frozen” and rigid, while also protecting against “boiling over” into violence.
The challenge for us as Christians is to use our influence within the culture, but to do so while “diluting” into the culture so that we don’t stand out. Our very lives need to bring the flavor of Christianity to the whole world, doing so unconsciously as just a part of our day-to-day living. The greatest compliment we could ever receive as Christians is to go unnoticed for our acts of love toward our neighbors.
This, of course, goes contrary to human nature. We want to be recognized. We want people to notice us and give us credit for our work. The corruption of sin on our souls leads to the temptation towards pride, so that our “flavor” is tasted and not Christ’s. Just as salt can become overpowering and end up hurting the flavor of food, our pride can cause us to become more important than Our Lord. Obviously, we want to avoid this!
As Christians, we do need to be the salt of the earth. Just as humble salt does so much for us, we need to be humble salt for Our Lord!
