Daily Meditation for April 14, 2022

Looking closely at Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting of the Last Supper, you will see a saltshaker 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 they are to be the “salt of the earth.” The next time you reach for the 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 my family and community especially on this day we call Holy Thursday? Do I season the lives of those with whom I live and work with peace, joy and hope?”

By Joyce Iten, OSB