Prayer to be “durable” like salt

The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Thursday, Week VII, Year II in Ordinary Time, 24 February 2022
James 5:1-6   ><)))*> + ><)))*> + ><)))*>   Mark 9:41-50

Lord Jesus, 
as I prayed your words
today, I remembered our
dear Pope emeritus, 
Benedict XVI telling us 
in his book "Jesus of
Nazareth, Holy Week"
how Luke strangely recorded 
that you "ate salt" with your 
disciples in Acts 1:4;
according to this most holy
and learned Pope of modern
time, "Salt is regarded as a 
guarantee of durability.  It is a
remedy against putrefaction,
against the corruption that
pertains to the nature of death...
of preserving life" (page 271).

I have always loved that piece of 
information and deep reflection by 
Pope Benedict XVI that when you,
O Lord, mentioned this most common
commodity in the gospel, I just felt
joy and assurance from you:

Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.

Mark 9:49-50

"Rub" us with your salt,
Jesus, to purify us and make us
durable in being faithful to you
always, never becoming a scandal
for others to commit sin.

Keep us salted, Lord, 
always flavorful and tasty,
so alive filled with zest for life
with your presence, with your
love and mercy for others 
that truly lead us to peace
and harmony; do not let us be
"corroded" by the world as
St. James warned in the first
reading.  Amen.