Pondering Today's Word

From the scriptures for today's Mass: 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.

Sometimes we are surprised that good people suffer, perhaps thinking that faithfulness to the Lord and his Word should somehow shield us from life's difficulties. But if neither Jesus nor his Mother, Mary, were spared human suffering can we expect our lot to be different?

The "treasure" we hold in the fragile, earthen vessels of our lives is the presence of Jesus. If we follow in his footsteps the path will lead us to the Cross and if we stand at the foot of the Cross the Lord will lead us to new life in him. It is on account of such faith that we can say:

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.

Do you remember the song, Earthen Vessels? Here's the refrain:

We hold a treasure, not made of gold,
in earthen vessels wealth untold:
one treasure only, the Lord, the Christ,
in earthen vessels...

Let us pray:

O God,
even when the fragile vessel of my life
is chipped and cracked,
help me to trust that you will mend
these broken shards and make me
healed and whole again
in your love.
Amen.