“Salty Snacks and Salt of the Earth” Karen Dziekonska, Fiat Ventures

“Salty Snacks and Salt of the Earth” Karen Dziekonska, Fiat Ventures

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Super Bowl is here! I guess that means it’s time for my yearly charade of pretending to care about football while I’m really only interested in the commercials and the 7-layer dip. Pass those salty snacks over here!

This Sunday’s Gospel talks about salt too, but Jesus isn’t snacking on Tostitos. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his disciples to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Now the theme of light is prominent in the Bible and it’s always been pretty easy for me to understand. Darkness is the absence of light, thus light makes darkness, fear and insecurities flee. Light gives hope and calms fears. It exposes imperfections and brings out the best in people. Although I’m not always the most positive person, I try my best to be the positive light to the people around me every day. I especially try to bring the light of Christ to my friends and family that don’t share my faith and pray that Christ used me to brighten their darkness.

The metaphor of salt was the one that gave me some trouble. Salt is a mineral that preserves and flavors, but what does that have to do with our faith? During Jesus’ time, salt was the only preservative people had for their food. As disciples, we are called to be salt because it is through us that faith is preserved and continues to grow. Salt also creates thirst. I don’t mean the thirst we feel after eating too many salty Super Bowl snacks, but the thirst for Christ. In John 4:14, Jesus says “…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst.”

When I started college, I was not a practicing Catholic. Sure I went to Mass on Christmas and Easter, but it was a routine or tradition more than anything. When a friend invited me on a retreat weekend, I laughed and declined, multiple times. But God was working though her, and after a few weeks of her inviting me, I caved. What I remember most from that first night, and what kept me coming back, was the infectious joy this group of students had that I haven’t found anywhere else on campus. They were friendly, inviting and loving. I wanted to surround myself with this group, and I thirsted for what they had. It took me some time to figure out, but it was their faith that I desired. They were the first real disciples I met, and they were the perfect example of the salt of the earth and the light of the world that Jesus describes for us in this week’s Gospel.

Another thing about salt and light is that they don’t do a whole lot on their own.  Light needs something to shine on, and salt something to preserve or flavor. We can’t be disciples on our own, in isolation, but we are called to reach out, to welcome and be servants to others.  Whether it’s serving the needy in our own or surrounding communities, standing up for the unborn at the March for Life, bringing an enthusiastic and uplifting presence to Mass, or just sharing our faith with somebody at a Super Bowl party even if they’re rooting for the other team, we’ll always have plenty of opportunities to be salt and light. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine! This little salt of mine, I’m gonna let it…shake?