Today's Gospel in Art - You are the salt of the earth

Portrait of Christ, Salt Art 2016, © Rob Ferell artist

Gospel of 9th February 2020 - Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: 'You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

'You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.'

Reflection on the Salt Art work

Jesus tells His disciples today that they are the 'salt of the earth'. Why would He use those words? Salt was very valuable in the ancient world: the Greeks thought it contained something touching on the divine; and the Romans sometimes paid their soldiers with salt. The romans even said when a soldier didn't carry out his duties that 'he was not worth his salt'.

To me there are two reasons why Jesus used the salt-analogy for His disciples and also for us. Salt has two main qualities: it preserves and it flavours. To read on see: https://christianart.today/reading.php?id=323