Salt and Peace

Jesus said, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Mark 9:42-50 

Salt and Peace

We live in a world of stumbling blocks
many we have created of our own doing
threats hurled across international lines
we find ourselves anxious and afraid.

We ache to be accepted as we really are
yet we let fear and anger rule our days
we do not take the time to know our neighbors
we do not salt the world with flavor and joy.

It will always ne the vulnerable who suffer
their small portions obliterated by greed
their dwelling destroyed by cruel hubris
their lives lost because they were not seen.

A child  was placed in our angry midst
among the mobs ready to fight neighbors
there is no flavor or goodness in any of us
when we seek to destroy the fragile peace.

O send us light, peace and wisdom now
ans make us the instruments of love today
that we might return sweetness to the hurting
and exchange our might for the hope of peace.