KEEP SALT IN YOURSELVES

Jas 5,1-6; Ps 48; Mk 9,41-50
24 MAY
Salt is that current wisdom, an ever new and immediate gift of the Holy Spirit, that makes us see in the Word of Jesus both the truth that we must live and the perfect modalities of implementation. But we must confess that the light of the Holy Spirit, if asked with faith and prayer flowing from a free, meek, humble and pure heart, without any stain or vice or sin infinitely exceeds the abilities handed down to us by the ancient hagiographers. In the New Testament Wisdom is the Holy Spirit, his eternal Light that is given to those who ask for it as light to enlighten his every step. The Spirit of the Lord becomes wisdom and his light in the disciple. It is He who gives himself as his intelligence and his science or knowledge of the divine mysteries. Taken by the hand by the Spirit, the Christian reaches the full imitation of Jesus.

Such things as are hidden I learned and such as are plain; for Wisdom, the artificer of all, taught me. For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, Manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, Not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, Firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, And pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure and very subtle. For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity. For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her. For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness. And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; And passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets. For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom. For she is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars. Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom (Wis 7,21-30).

Whoever walks without the Holy Spirit, without him as his ever new, alive, immediate and current salt, might always sin with scandal. He might say a good word at an inopportune moment. He might perform a just action before people, but small in faith. He might also give excellent advice, which the other does not understand. He might do everything excellently well according to his conscience, but which disturbs the conscience of the other. He might not even say a word, not take an action, not intervene with his light, scandalizing, because the other considers his intervention necessary. Everything, without the Holy Spirit, can turn into a scandal. Jesus never committed a single sin of scandal not because he acted in perfect holiness, but because every action, word, desire and decision was always guided by the Spirit of the Lord. All of He lived under the powerful light of truth of the Spirit of God.

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 it 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 flavour? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

The Spirit of the Lord is not only necessary in order not to sin actively with scandal; it is also indispensable so that the scandal does not enter us and ruin our life. Evil does not need a thousand words to ruin a heart: a single frame, a single word or be in a place for a few moments suffice. It is death. Those who are strong in the Spirit will prevent the scandal from devouring them. Who is without the Spirit of the Lord, today in a particular way has no escape, aggressed night and day by all immorality.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels, Saints, fill us with the Holy Spirit.