Salt of the Earth, Think of the Love God Savors If it Holds its Flavor

Today's sermon focused on the Gospel reading which contained Matthew 5:13,

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

I never thought that salt could literally lose its flavor, and I realize that Jesus was referring to people and their faithlessness, but can salt really lose its flavor?

Common salt occurs when one atom of sodium and one atom of chlorine join up in an ionic bond. The resulting compound is referred to as sodium chloride or NaCl. A pile of crystalline salt may get contaminated with something that spoils the taste, and Jesus may be referring to this as salt that has lost its savor, and that is a scary thought for the world is always trying to stir in things, additions, novelties, or new teachings to spoil the faithful.

Thankfully, we have the Master Chemist who can separate wheat from tares, and who can restore the savor to salt that has lost its flavor.

Pray, Lord Jesus, save us, restore our faith, and preserve us as we swim in this salty world.

Just a little drop [atom] of chlorine, valence minus one
Swimming through the sea, diggin' the scene, just havin' fun
She's not worried about the shape or size of her outer shell--
it's fun to ionize
Just a little atom of chlorine with an unfilled shell.

Somewhere in that sea lurks handsome sodium
With enough eletrons on his outside shell plus an extra one
"Somewhere in this deep blue sea, there is a negative
for my extra energy
Yes somewhere in this foam, my positive will find a home"

Then unsuspecting chlorine felt a magnetic pull
She looked down and her outside shell was full!
Sodium cried "What a gas, be my bride,
And I'll change your name from chlorine to chloride!"

Now the sea evaporates to make the clouds for rain and snow,
Leaving her chemical conpounds in the absence of H2O
But the crystals that wash upon the shore are happy ones,
so if you never thought before,
Think of the love that you eat ... when you salt your meat!

by Kate and Ann McGarrigle

Ye are the salt of the earth. Think of the love God savors if ye keep your flavor.