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Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-16
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Some early Christians took the promise of the resurrection so seriously, that they developed some odd practices to ensure they were living in accordance with the Gospel.
For example, if someone was expelled from the community of faith for living immorally, or if a person left the faith willingly, before returning to the community, that person would have to lie flat on the floor at the church’s entrance and publicly proclaim:
“Trample upon me who was the salt which lost its flavor.”
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Such a humbling practice – being stepped on by your peers (and at the entrance of church, nonetheless!) – was derived from Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its taste, it is no longer good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”
Perhaps these Christians took the Gospel too literally, but this exercise certainly makes a point. In the ancient world, salt was not only used as flavoring, but also as a preservative; it kept food from rotting.
It’s also what faith does for Christians. It gives us meaning; you might say, it “flavors” our life. Without it, life would be bland; dark; and, ultimately, meaningless.
Faith also preserves our souls from being ruined by sin.
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In what ways does faith “flavor” my life? How does it season my time, my decisions, and the influence I have on other people?
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“Trample upon me who was the salt who lost its flavor.”
May those words never be spoken of us.
Be “salty” instead.
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Image credits: (1) Romanita Hairston (2) Group Bible Study (3) Story Jewellery