The Salt of the Earth

Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Imagine, if you will, the newly converted Paul walking into Corinth with hopes of establishing a community that embraces the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Corinth was one of the most important cities in Greece. It sat at a critical point on the Grecian peninsula, a narrow strip of land which separates the Saronic and Corinthian gulfs of the Mediterranean Sea. Trading vessels would dock and transport their goods by land to the other side of the city where they would be loaded up on other vessels to continue their westward journey. Because of its location, Corinth was a bustling metropolis with a variety of people from different cultures. Paul went there in hopes of converting the Jewish population. Failing to do so, he turned to the Gentiles of the city and was enormously successful. It is said that he spent a year there establishing the community and leaving it with competent leadership.

Greece was famous throughout the world for the wisdom of its philosophers. However, Paul had delivered a brilliant speech to the philosophers of Athens, but he made only a very few converts. When he arrived in Corinth, he decided to claim to know only one thing: Jesus Christ and him crucified. In other words, he got out of the way. With this minimalist strategy, Paul won a whole congregation; or rather, Jesus Christ did.

There is only one Word of God: Christ. God has only one Word. We, on the other hand, have many words. Which do you suppose has more spiritual power? St. Paul wrote later in this letter, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” How much power? Christ said to his apostles just before his Ascension: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.” However, that’s not the world’s power any more than it’s the world’s wisdom. It’s the power of divine love which melts hardened hearts and the wisdom of divine love, which opens blind eyes. The world’s power works from outside in, through fear and greed, threats and temptations; the Spirit’s power works from inside out, appealing to love which is free. The world’s wisdom works from the top down, from the head to the heart, through cleverness and control and predictability, by the power of science and technology. God’s wisdom works from the bottom up, the eye of the heart enlightening the head by the power of love.

Jesus calls upon his disciples to be “the salt of the earth.” Salt is absolutely essential for human life and bodily flourishing. Just as our human bodies need a proper balance of salt in our blood streams, the Body of Christ – that is, us – needs discipleship electrolytes, needs you and me in order to function for the life and flourishing of Christ’s presence in the world. And it doesn’t take a specialist or a religious “professional” to fulfill Christ’s call to be such spiritual salt. Paul presents us with a model for thinking about what is necessary to be an apostle—one sent to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ—namely, accepting the spirit and sharing the faith that has been handed on to us. He reminds us that one can be weak and fearful and inarticulate according to the wisdom of the world. These are no requisite qualifications or stellar skills necessary to be a disciple.

If we’re looking for examples of how to be the salt of the earth, we only have to turn to our first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. We hear a reminder that we should feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, satisfy the afflicted; and in doing so our “light shall break forth like the dawn.” Our world is desperately in need of missionary disciples, people who will break down the walls that are being built to separate us from one another. We need to end of the war of words and remember the Word of God. It is time to stop our bickering and arguing and our constant talking; it is time for deeds – deeds of love and neighborliness. As the popular tune reminds us, “what the world needs now” is the salt of our love.