This weekend I went at mass with my family. The gospel of the mass was from St. Matthew. “You are the salt of the earth,” he wrote. I had never thought much about salt. A common condiment found on every kitchen table. Father John, our parish priest, however, gave me an understanding of this famous passage that appreciated and as I listened made me think of our NYMA community. So, what does salt do? It adds something to our daily food. In a soup or on our French fries we always know when it is missing. It is that little something that enhances the meal and awakens our taste buds. Salt also is a preservative. If you have ever had a Virginia ham, or kippered herring or salted cod you understand that drying or salting, is a way to keep meat for later use. We have freezers and refrigerators today, but up until the 19th century salting meat was the only way of preserving the food. So salt is a valuable commodity – as salt enriches and preserves. So then what does it mean then to be “the salt of the earth?” I would like to think St. Matthew was suggesting that we all do our best to enrich and preserve our community and our world. Rather than lose our saltiness we should spread kindness and happiness in an effort to improve and enhance life with friendship, consideration, and love. Naturally we have all felt an injustice in our lives. Feeling upset the next move is to share your irritation. But what was accomplished? I doubt it made you feel better and what benefit was made for our community or world? St. Matthew later in the gospel likewise said that we “are the light of the world.” This metaphor might be easier to see. He asks, if when we light a lamp to we put it under cover? No, we put it on a stand to “give light to everyone.” Like a light the metaphor suggests we should shine by good deeds and example. Ultimately, this is my goal for all our NYMA students– to be the salt and the light with their actions, words, and choices. — Christine C. McDonald, Dean of Academics
