Jesus refers to the everyday things when he talks about the spiritual mysteries. The salt is a daily element in meals, the salt has its own flavor. The salt looks like the word of god.
The word of God gives meaning, it gives flavor to our lives. Being salty means being wise in the word. Salt is in food like wisdom to the world.
Jesus talking about the salt is telling us about the gift of wisdom.
Fire is an element of purification, symbolizes the energy of God. The spiritual fire as in Pentecost (Acts 2) purifies and transforms man. The spiritual fire is the holy spirit, is God who gives us his essence.
Jesus when he tell to the disciples: "everyone will be salted with fire" Mark 9:49 is promising the holy spirit to the disciples.
This promise is realized in Pentecosts:
"When the day of Pentecost came, they where all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2: 1-4
The tongues of fire represents the holy spirit, God is given not only the gift of tongues, but also is given to the disciples the gifts of wisdom, understanding and discernment; as the gifts that King Solomon receives in dreams:
"At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you".
Solomon answered: So give your servant a heart that knows how to listen, to judge your people, and to discern between good and evil...
So God said to him:...I will give you a wise and understanding heart." 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; 1 Kings 3:5-12
Now, why this promise of the holy spirit to the disciples, let's see this bible verse:
"Jesus said to Simon Peter: Simon, son of John, do you agape more than these? Yes Lord, you know that I philia you" John 21:15-16.
Jesus asks with "agape", the gift of love, the spiritual love (love of charity) and Peter answered with Philia, the love of the soul. Agape is the love of the holy spirit, the love of the seven spiritual gifts, the integrity.
Jesus is asking to Peter if he has wisdom, understanding and discernment, Peter answer with the love of the friends, that is to say he doesn't have this spiritual gifts. Then Jesus will tell them: "everyone will be salted with fire" Mark 9:49.
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