What did Jesus really mean when He said, “You are the salt of the earth”? On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon dives into the original Greek to uncover a meaning that’s both surprising and convicting.

In English, we hear, “If salt loses its taste…” But in Greek, the word used is moranthi — which literally means “to become foolish” or “to become stupid.” Fr. Simon explains that in the ancient world, salt wasn’t just seasoning. It was a preservative. Without refrigeration, salt kept meat from rotting. In fact, salt was so valuable that it was sometimes used as payment — which is where we get the word “salary.”

So when Jesus calls His followers “the salt of the earth,” He isn’t just talking about bringing vibrancy and flavor to life. He’s talking about preservation.

Salt, Fr. Simon notes, was even compared to the soul in the body. As long as the soul remains, the body does not decay. In the same way, Christians are meant to be a preserving force in the world, holding back corruption through holiness and truth. 

But what happens when salt “loses its edge”?

In homes with dirt floors, moisture could seep into a salt box and contaminate the bottom layer. Once polluted, it was useless and had to be thrown out. The salt itself had not preserved what touched it. Instead, it had been corrupted.

“If we are polluted with the dirt of the world,” Fr. Simon explains, “we’ve become stupid. We’ve become pointless. We’ve lost our edge.”

The warning is clear. Christians are called to transform the world, not be transformed by it. If the preservative becomes contaminated, who will preserve it?

Jesus’ words may be ancient, but they remain urgent. To be salt means to remain distinct, faithful, and grounded in Him, even and especially when the world resists.

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