Salted

First reading:  Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance. (James 5:1-6)

Gospel reading:  Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

“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 9:41-50)

Do we feel the weight?  Are we wet?  Do we have “sinning” eyes, hands, and/or feet? If we answer “yes” to any or all of these questions, get ready for worms and unquenchable fire.  James focused on the rich of his day who were oppressors and thieves with the poor as their victims.  Truly, their behavior and misspent wealth would be rotted away, their clothes moth-eaten, their gold and silver corroded, with all being a testimony against them and devouring their flesh like a fire.  Quite the description and warning to us all today.

These readings are to get our immediate attention regarding how we sin against each other.  Jesus gives us a dramatic and unsettling picture of the consequences for those who cause us to sin.  We know we often are the culprits as well.  Guilty as charged.  

We are to remain “salted” thereby giving us “flavor” and peace with one another.  That salt is care, compassion, and love.  In this case, there is no need for a salt-free diet.  We all need more salt, not less.

Deacon David Pierce