Can the Salt of the Earth Loose it's Savor?

 

In today's corporate world we always talk about productivity. Almost everyone is driven by that catch word, "productivity". Productivity is often measured in terms of profit and gain. Many times we think this is selfish. And indeed greed is not a virtue. But we can borrow the concept of productivity even the spiritual sphere. Jesus in his teachings often make reference to the principle of productivity. I am reminded of a popular but very meaningful verse in the Bible. This is found in Matthew 5:13 it says like this in the Latin Vulgate of St. Jerome says "vos estis sal terrae quod si sal evanuerit in quo sallietur ad nihilum valet ultra nisi ut mittatur foras et conculcetur ab hominibus" [the KJ version reads: "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." This verse tells us that our purpose in this world is to make this world meaningful, which otherwise would be ugly and dreary. And failure to be the salt of the earth we are in danger of being trampled upon. This "spiritual productivity" as may coin the term, is seriously dealt with in the teachings of Christ. In the gospel we read how our Lord was hungry and finding a fig tree was looking for its fruit. But finding none our Lord cursed the fig tree, and in the morning when the disciples saw the tree dried up and dead, they were amazed at the power of Christ. They exclaimed, is this not the fig tree that our Lord cursed, lo behold it is dried up. Our Lord said as it has no more use it is better that it be thrown into the fire (Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-14).

When do we loose our saltiness? Let me enumerate for brevity sake:
1. We loose our interest and love for the liturgy.
2. The words of the gospel does not bring excitement anymore.
3. When we become callous and insensitive to sin.
4. The general feeling of lukewarmness for things that pertain to God.
5. Excessive interest in worldly affairs.
What shall we do then when we are confronted with these? The answer is simple, we have to go back to our first love. This may take an extraordinary grace from God, but we also must do our part. God has not clouded our intellect completely, but gave us the ability to reach out to Him. He has not deprived us of the means to come to reach Him. God forbid that we should abandon our "first love" (Revelation 2:4). Who is our first love? This is Jesus. Let us remember the day when Jesus touched our hearts, how it was set on fire with love for God and the zeal for the faith. Let us remember the consuming devotion and the love for others. And above all let us pray without ceasing. So that in His grace we shall remain the SALT OF THE EARTH.