By Tom Thomas
In Mt 5:13 we are told that “ you are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.”
I was feeling this way recently- that I had lost the salt in me. Things were seeming challenging-almost too much to bear, and I was not feeling happy about the outcomes of some situations. Was it my fault or the others, I kept wondering, crestfallen.
Providentially, a recent two hour study session on the Beatitudes helped me understand why the saltiness had gone from my life.
I of course was aware of the 8 Beatitudes listed in Mt 5:3-12:
1.Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
2.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
3.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the Earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
5.Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
6.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the Sons of God.
8.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
9.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
10.Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
My knowledge of the Beatitudes, prior to this study, was not more than a cursory shallow reading. This was not imprinted in me as a code to follow for life.
The close study of these beatitudes were challenging to say the least, and I found, in particular, the qualities spelled out in Beatitude1 “ poor in spirit”, Beatitude 3 “ meek” and Beatitude 6 “ pure in heart” were challenging me. My flawed human nature is arrogant, certainly not meek or pure in heart most times.
My self analysis post the study, and guided I suppose in some ( or most part) by Him, showed me these were the very reasons for having lost the saltiness in my life.
What did I do with this knowledge? I have been trying to remain poor in spirit, meek, and pure of heart, though the world puts me in situations where I am tempted to react in the opposite manner to what the Beatitudes tell me. It’s a great effort. I have slipped several times, and then my conscience tells me what I did was not right, and I need to make a Confession immediately and maybe amends to that person affronted by me, as the situation demands from me. Only then I can be “happy” or “rich” or ‘blessed” as the Beatitudes promise.
Looking at Num 12:3, we read that Moses was the meekest man on earth, and he was arguably the greatest leader of the promised people, second only to our Lord Jesus Christ. I am quite sure Moses possessed several of the other qualities ( if not most of them) as spelt out in the Beatitudes. I therefore need to hold on to these qualities as outlined in the Beatitudes if I am to be a Spirit led leader as Moses was.
In summary, this quote of Josemaria Escriva seems relevant:
“Understand this well: there is something holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it is up to each one of you to discover it.”
Help me Lord to find in all the situations I have to face, this state of “ beatitudo” – Latin for the State of Blessedness as coined by Cicero. This will surely help me regain the salt in my life.