8 February 2026

In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus  describes the Church as the salt of the earth. The context is important. He has just told the disciples that they will face persecution like the prophets before them. ‘Rejoice and be glad!’ God will reward them.

Being the salt of the earth is something which the Church is, not least when things are difficult – persecution maybe  but also the rejection of the life of Jesus and the good news.  It is this saltiness which we are called to preserve in difficult times.

Salt adds flavour. It cleanses, preserves, enriches the earth. Its effect is hidden. In St. Mark’s Gospel, Jesus says, ‘Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’ Whatever this saltiness is, it has something to do with reconciliation.

This takes us to the heart of the Gospel and the ministry of Jesus who suffered and died to reconcile the world. This saltiness is that life-giving hidden quality which seeks to find solutions to intractable problems, surmount difficulties in personal relationships, bring harmony to the earth.

When he was talking to some young ministers from the Orthodox Church last Thursday, Pope Leo encouraged all efforts to support each other ‘so that we may grow in our shared faith in Christ, who is the ultimate source of our peace’.  He went on to say:

‘The historic and cultural differences in our Churches represent a wonderful mosaic of our shared Christian heritage …’ He talked about the various churches which St. Paul founded with different ethnic backgrounds, customs and challenges who were counselled to be outward-looking and united in Christ.

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