2 Corinthians 4
The passage from the second letter of St Paul to Corinthians we just heard in today's reading is a part of St Paul’s exposition on the apostleship and ministry of the Gospel of Christ. He honestly describes the human conditions, challenges, hardships, failures, and frustrations as a minister of the Gospel. But I believe his explanation of the nature of the apostleship and ministry of Christ is also applied to any serious Christians because all baptized share the duty to proclaim the Gospel.
What do you remember from the reading today? What words of St Paul impress you the most? And how would you summarize the reading in a few words?
To me, the first sentence of today’s passage is the most striking. And particularly, this phrase summarizes the whole reading: “this treasure in clay vessels”. And I would like to highlight the phrase, “clay vessels”. The word ‘clay’ implies our humble human conditions – limited, fragile, and corruptible – our mortal flesh.
When we try to live a life of a faithful Christian, we are afflicted by every possible test; we are perplexed with discouragements of all kinds; we are persecuted from within and outside the Church; we are struct down by allegations and accusations. And we will mostly lose; we will daily live the death. But then, only then, the life of Jesus is made visible, St. Paul teaches. The light of Christ shines through our utter weakness. Only when we become ‘clay vessels’, we may finally carry the treasure of the Gospel.
When I realize my unworthiness, sinfulness, and helplessness, I am tempted to give myself up. When I face my past failures and scars, and when I am soaked with current frustrations, I am tempted to walk away from the Gospel. But these words of St Paul give me the courage to take another step for today. I pray that the Lord gives us our daily bread so that we may continue our journey with the treasure in the clay vessels of our mortal flesh.
