You are the Salt of the Earth

Dear friends in Christ,

“You are the salt of the earth”

Growing up, I remember hearing this phrase being used to refer to particularly humble and good-hearted individuals and groups. I had a vague sense that the concept came from Scripture, but to be honest I was more familiar with its use in common parlance than I was with its particular chapter and verse in the Bible. And yet, as we look ahead to hearing this verse proclaimed from the Gospel of Matthew this coming Sunday, I can think of several reasons why Christ might have specifically chosen the image of salt as a metaphor for people of good faith.

1. Salt is cherished across cultures and regions—as it was traded and transported in antiquity, it brought wide spectra of diverse peoples together.

2. Salt keeps things good—it was one of the few preservatives available in the ancient world—it was used to cure fish, among other things, and protect against disease and degradation.

3. Salt has a transformative quality—while it might not look very impressive, a small amount of salt can enliven an entire meal, bringing out unique and diverse flavors from ingredients that might otherwise be bland.

4. Salt is necessary for life—as organisms that sweat to cool off, our bodies crave salt in part because we need it in order to protect our internal homeostasis in the midst of life. It helps to maintain balance in our bodies. Among many other things, sodium is also necessary for the interconnectedness of synapses in our nervous system, including in the mind.

Faithful people gathered together are like salt. And for this I give thanks and praise here at St. George’s.

Blessings,

John