SAINT EPHREM, DEACON AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

You are the salt of the earth.

We all know that salt makes us thirsty.   So when Jesus tells his disciples that they are the salt of the earth, we understand that he is calling them to awaken thirst in other people.   But did you know that he is telling you the same thing? Jesus wants everyone to thirst for him and the promise of his kingdom—and that includes the people around you.   He wants you to share the good news about his love in a way that attracts them and arouses their thirst for his presence.

Many people don’t feel thirsty for God because they think of faith more as historical events from the past.   But if someone needed water, you wouldn’t send them to a dried-up river bed.   You’d send them to an active, life-giving stream!   So when your life shows that Jesus didn’t come just to lay down a bunch of rules but to change hearts and empower us to live in a new way, people begin to thirst for what you have.

For example, you could share about Jesus’ ability to heal or his grace to forgive—and share stories from your life as illustrations.   Sometimes, just reminding a friend that God is at work in their life right now is being salt for them.   Encouraging them to ask Jesus for direction is being the salt of the earth.   So too is promising to pray for their needs—and remembering to do it.   In other words, you don’t have to be a saint to make someone thirsty for the Lord!   Always remember, you are not the source of living water for them; you just have to show them where they can find it.

Take some time to think about the people around you.   Do you know someone who is thirsting for the Lord but who doesn’t even know it yet?   Is there someone who might respond to an invitation to take a drink from the living waters of Christ?   By all means pray for that person, but make sure to ask the Spirit to help you become the salt that will awaken their thirst and lead them to Jesus.

“Lord, teach me how to awaken thirst for you in the people all around me.”

1 Kings 17:7-16
Psalm 4:2-5, 7-8