BUT IF SALT BECOMES TASTELESS …….

Salt is a symbol of the highest value. It is a treasure of incalculable worth, so excellent that, if its flavour is lost, nothing higher can restore it. In the Gospel, ‘Salt’ is the symbol for the works of Peace. Jesus final exhortation for those who desire to be great is, ‘Have salt in yourself and be at peace with one another’. (v.50)

Jesus, the Teacher, has told His disciples that their desire to be ‘great’ will sabotage the work of the Kingdom. But they have not understood, or integrated, this teaching. In their defence, this is not an easy thing to do. Now they are reacting to an exorcist who does not belong to their inner circle. He is immediately seen as a threat. They guard their turf against anyone who might steal their sense of self-importance. They are so competitive; they do not even see the ones who have been liberated. The fact that a sister, or a brother, has been freed does not enter their minds. They have become, in their own minds, a tight knit power group. When good is being done, and they do not benefit, they want to stop it.

The fact that they ‘tried’ to stop it may indicate that they failed. Now they want Jesus to intervene. But Jesus, as usual, has a different vision of what is happening. His heart is set first on the coming of the Kingdom. Anyone who is helping that happen is a welcome guest. They are part of the family because they are doing the Fathers will. He urges His disciples to be more generous. All are for them, unless they prove otherwise. Until people exhibit hostility and hold values that go counter to the new humanity, they should be welcomed as allies. Disciples must not exclude anyone.

‘Servants of the Kingdom’ includes those who offer welcome, hospitality and who perform small acts of kindness. They should not be overlooked. Those who want to “Lord it” over others sabotage the Kingdom and might make those who do the little things question if what they do has any value. For Jesus, the little ones will not lose their reward. Their welcome, their hospitality, their kindness stand shoulder to shoulder with the great acts of teaching, preaching and exorcising.

The best way for disciples to avoid causing hurt or scandal is to eliminate the causes in themselves. The drive to be great, to save our self, to have power over others or to harm others in order to save ourselves are the ways of the world. They are second nature. They are like a hand, an eye or a foot. If disciples choose to serve, to losing their lives for the sake of the Kingdom, being least of all and servant of all and not harming others, there must be clarity about what is at stake and a commitment to whatever surgery is needed to remain faithful. When disciples amputate from their hearts whatever is preventing them from entering life, the fire of damnation becomes a purifying fire. The emphasis here is clearly on what is kept and not on what is lost.

The desire to be great is in us all. We weigh everything, and probably everyone, in terms of whether they promote or diminish us. The craving to be promoted and not diminished might drive and steer the course of our day to day lives! We see examples of this all around us. Hierarchies are everywhere and become the benchmark of how we are doing. So how can Jesus command us to make ourselves last of all? He can’t. He has to add one last piece to the jigsaw if disciples are not to become resenting servants. Disciples must come to understand why Service is the only true greatness.

Sam Keen (To a Dancing God [New York: Harper & Row,1970]17), was asking the question, ‘What can I do to give my life meaning, dignity, density?’ In response he wrote, “The answer came suddenly jumping up and down in my mind with the force of an obvious fact long denied. I woke one night in Manhattan with the words, ‘Nothing, Nothing,’ on my lips. As I started to laugh at the comedy of my seriousness, my vertigo began to subside. I saw that I had been obsessed with the wrong question. In the face of uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, no human act or project could render existence meaningful or secure … Either dignity and meaningfulness come with the territory or they must forever be absent. Sanctity is given with being. It is not earned”.

This is so true! And Jesus with absolute clarity teaches this. He asks us to imagine the worst possible thing that could happen to us. Then adds that it doesn’t come close to the horror of extinguishing the light of love in another person’s heart. The stakes are indeed very high. Very high indeed!