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Lord Jesus, as I prayed your words today, I remembered our dear Pope emeritus, Benedict XVI telling us in his book "Jesus of Nazareth, Holy Week" how Luke strangely recorded that you "ate salt" with your disciples in Acts 1:4; according to this most holy and learned Pope of modern time, "Salt is regarded as a guarantee of durability. It is a remedy against putrefaction, against the corruption that pertains to the nature of death... of preserving life" (page 271).
I have always loved that piece of information and deep reflection by Pope Benedict XVI that when you, O Lord, mentioned this most common commodity in the gospel, I just felt joy and assurance from you:
Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.
Mark 9:49-50
"Rub" us with your salt, Jesus, to purify us and make us durable in being faithful to you always, never becoming a scandal for others to commit sin.
Keep us salted, Lord, always flavorful and tasty, so alive filled with zest for life with your presence, with your love and mercy for others that truly lead us to peace and harmony; do not let us be "corroded" by the world as St. James warned in the first reading. Amen.
