Salt of the Earth

     Yesterday at Mass the Gospel reading included Jesus’ words: “You are the salt of the earth.” Our chaplain, Fr. John Cahill, shared a homily about that phrase. It included the idea that salt was so valuable in early times that it was used as currency. The homily also included the idea that salt makes a difference in the taste of foods. 

     As I often do, I immediately began thinking of my own experiences with salt. Last summer I went on a school trip with Villa Madonna students and families to Austria, Switzerland and Germany. One of the highlights was a visit into a salt mine outside of Salzburg (meaning Salt City), Austria. Several miles below the surface we saw how the salt was mined in the past and how it is still mined today. When we resurfaced we went to the gift shop, of course, where I wanted to get something that would remind me of the trip and the importance of salt. I purchased a salt and pepper grinder with salt from that mine that I use in cooking almost every day. 

     Without salt everything takes bland. Salt does make a difference. Even sweet things need a little salt to bring out the sweetness. Every brownie or chocolate cake recipe includes salt in some form. Mashed potatoes without salt are basically inedible. I’m sure you have your own examples. 

     The phrase “you can make a difference” has been used way too much in my opinion. In yesterday’s homily, however, with the idea of us being “salt of the earth” it makes sense. We should be making a difference. We should be enhancing the lives of the people around us. 

     We are the salt of the earth! Nancy Kordenbrock, OSB