Daily Meditation for November 10, 2020

If you look closely at Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper, you will see that a salt shaker has been knocked over by the arm of Judas Iscariot. Salt was used in sacred rituals among the Greeks, Romans and Jews. It was used for sacrifice and was also a symbol of purity and incorruptibility. Doctors urge us to reduce the amount of salt in our diets, and many processed foods are labeled “salt free.” Jesus, on the other hand, told his followers that they are to be the “salt of the earth.” So, the next time you reach for a saltshaker, sprinkle a little salt into your hand and ask yourself: “Am I truly salt for someone else, a shield of protection from evil, a preserver of life for others? Do I season the lives of those with whom I live and work with peace, joy, and hope?”

By Joyce Iten, OSB