Having Salt Within Ourselves

Jesus tells his listeners in Mark's gospel that they must have salt within themselves in order to live in peace with themselves and with each other.

Salt is used today primarily to season food.  In ancient times is was used primarily in religious ritual.  In Jewish tradition, salt was used most prominently in rituals that emphasized Israel's covenant relationship with God; salt was added to the ritual bread on the Sabbath to season it.  Consequently, salt became associated with the need for Israel to celebrate and cultivate a deep relationship with their creator and covenant God in order to live peacefully with themselves and with each other.

There is enormous violence today.  We are abusive to ourselves, failing to forgive ourselves and punishing ourselves for our perceived failings.  We are abusive to each other, which is often nothing more than a projection of our own self hatred.  The nations of the world are abusive to each other.  All this abuse and violence has its heart in the lack of peace within ourselves.  If there is peace within ourselves, then our relationships will be peaceful, and the world is filled with those who are at peace within themselves, there will be peace on earth.

The key to peace is to have salt within ourselves.  In our hearts, to cultivate a deep relationship with God and to enter into covenant with Him as he was revealed in Christ, living under the Lordship of Christ and following his example.