2 Cor 4:7-15
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Brothers and sisters: We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke," we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
“We hold this treasure in earthen vessels….” In some translations, this is “clay pots”. It made me think of those cheap clay pots you can get at Target or Wal-Mart that (some people think) are cute, but have no function other than decoration. The paint chips, the clay cracks and they only last a little while before you have to go get some more. Some people put small stones in them or they may plant a little something.
When I read the letter from Paul this morning at Mass, I thought, “Paul is right. We ARE the clay pots. We hold the “pearl of great price” (Mt 13:44-46) within us every time we partake of the Eucharist.”
And when we have Christ within us we may be “afflicted in every way, but not constrained, perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body of the dying Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.”
The trouble with some of us, however is that even though we have the pearl in the clay pot, we never take it out to look at it, or share it with others.
I think this week I am going to try to take the pearl out of THIS “clay pot” and share it with whoever I meet.
When I read the letter from Paul this morning at Mass, I thought, “Paul is right. We ARE the clay pots. We hold the “pearl of great price” (Mt 13:44-46) within us every time we partake of the Eucharist.”
And when we have Christ within us we may be “afflicted in every way, but not constrained, perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed; always carrying about in the Body of the dying Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.”
The trouble with some of us, however is that even though we have the pearl in the clay pot, we never take it out to look at it, or share it with others.
I think this week I am going to try to take the pearl out of THIS “clay pot” and share it with whoever I meet.
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