BY KLAUS DÖRING
“You are like salt for the whole human race.” (Matthew 5, 13).
WHY IS IT called salt?
It comes from the Latin for salt which is sal. It also contributes to the Latin word salarium which indicates the individual Roman soldier’s “salt money” from which we also derive the word salary.
Salt was used for preservation and for flavoring of meat, etc., which was essential for an army on the march.
Why is salt important to life?
Salt plays a crucial role in maintaining human health. It is the main source of sodium and chloride ions in the human diet. Sodium is essential for nerve and muscle function and is involved in the regulation of fluids in the body. Sodium also plays a role in the body’s control of blood pressure and volume.
Eating too much sodium can increase your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease and stroke. Together, heart disease and stroke kill more Americans each year than any other cause.
Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt.
My late grandmother (born 1899!) taught me many things regarding daily life. I really admired her and didn’t care to travel hundreds of miles to her house located in the former East Germany – just to spend a few hours there. The wall and border which separated Germany into two, aggravated such journeys many times. Still in my mind are innumerable thoughts on how to convent bible sayings into reality.
Salt of the earth – People during various activities and occupations. “Black” and “white” meet each other, shake hands, smile. An old woman selling vegetables in the market. She looks tired but her features still show hope and peace. Young people, walking through a shopping mall – laughing, joking, being happy. Fishermen at the shore doing their work in sorting nets.
Salt on earth – Many things can be like that. Not only during mass service in the church. Not only by preaching. Also touching the hands of my distressed friend, listening to my lonely neighbor; remembering someone and writing him or her a letter or an email. I join others by helping, working, laughing, playing, singing. I listen to love’s melody.
Salt of the earth – Christian life doesn’t always mean possessions or property. Christian life is doing something, it’s collecting one’s thoughts. It is giving and receiving. It’s a hug or a smile or a comforting talk. Christian life means having as Christian acting people in my surroundings.
Salt on earth – Of course, as we all know: too much salt is also dangerous to our health. But if we plan to live without any salt, we might fail to survive also. Do you know that wars have been waged and nations have been extinguished because of salt? Salt is more than a simple stabilizer.
Before the refrigerator was invented, salt was a miracle of daily life. Salt made foodstuffs well. So, let’s think about it: if we are part of earth’s salt, who are we? Do we bring rottenness or do we preserve and keep our surroundings well?
We should be salt on earth as in cleaning, helping and healing, but not salt, that brings caustic, corroding and mordant poison in other’s life.
Salt on earth without being dumb, mute, silent, stale, and incompetent!
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