BE THE PERSON GOD WANTS US TO BE
Directly following our Gospel Reading today, Jesus speaks of how “everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?” (Mark 9:49-50). We learn that salt in ancient times was scraped up for use from the shores of the Dead Sea. It was used for fertilizing gardens to enable growth and to also disinfect and inhibit disease in waste. As salt was costly, salt merchants would put sand in the salt, thereby making it heavier and making a profit. This causes the salt to lose it’s saltiness and was thrown out onto the streets.
This provides a vivid picture to illustrate why salt is good as it enables growth, enhances something other than itself and at the same time preserves what is potentially harmful to man. Salt when it loses its saltiness, cannot be restored, or used for any purpose.
As we read the Gospel of St. Mark chapter 9, we go from the mountain top to the valley, where we find Peter, James and John so near to God at the Transfiguration of Jesus. They thereafter left the mountain and went down the valley and encountered the all too human experiences that we as humans go through. Do we recognise ourselves in these teachings? In the rising to faith by a father in the healing of his son from “if you are able” to “I believe, help my unbelief”? In the teaching “to be first, one must be last and servant of all”? Are we intolerant of others while we are tolerant with ourselves, especially when we are time-constrained or not truly listening? Are we lacking in love when we ought to will the good of the other? Or do we get beguiled by the enticements of the world, authority, power and by our own preoccupations?
Similarly, there are days when we find ourselves close to God and at the same time, we have days when we are down in the valley. We live in both and cope with both in our homes, families, workplace, church, and community.
To be the ‘salt of the earth” and the person God wants us to be, Jesus teaches and speaks bluntly. In our lives for anything that is blocking our salvation; in what we are doing, watching, where we are going and when these hinder us – we are to cut off one’s hand and foot and pluck out one’s own eye. Do I take out an eye or continue the path I am on? Is it better to enter life partially or wholly disabled than going the way that leads to sin and separation from God? In this teaching, Jesus gives us a path and way in life that is transformative, helping us to move forward, to grow in our journey and to “have salt in ourselves, and to be at peace with one another.” (Mark 9:50).
In this journey of life, constantly helping us to be the salt of the earth is the gift and indwelling of the Holy Spirit bestowed on us at our baptism. The gift of the fear of the Lord - fear here is not about terror, rather a reverence for the Lord and keeps us inseparable from Him. Fortitude, gives us the strength to do good, avoid evil, to struggle well in external pressures and to overcome obstacles. Of piety, with filial affection and worship, and honoring the saints. Of counsel, being directed by God to be the person God wants us to be and in matters necessary to salvation. The gift of knowledge, in matters of faith and right action and not wander from the path of justice. Of understanding, having insight of things necessary for our eternal salvation and to be able to see God in all things. The gift of wisdom, in both knowledge and judgement of divine things and direct human affairs according to divine truth (Isaiah 11:1-3).
When reflecting on this Gospel, it spurs me (and you also, dear Reader), today to “listen to Jesus” (Mark 9:7) and make one resolution in any area of our common everyday concerns, distractions, temptations, trials and shortcomings. God sees and knows everything about us, and does not fail to shower mercy on us His children when we earnestly and sincerely open our whole heart to Him. We give thanks to the Lord for His grace that nourishes and blesses us, for His mercy in our lives and His faithfulness endures. For we “know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” (Psalm 100:3-4).
Article by Olivia Tan, HFC Blog Contributor