Daily Retreat 06/12/09
2009 Jun 12 Fri:Ordinary Weekday
2 Cor 4:7-15/ Ps 115(116):10-11. 15-16. 17-18/ Mt 5:27-32
From today’s readings: “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels.... To You, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.... If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.... ”
Apostolic Attitude
Atheists are at a loss to explain how historically, Christianity has withstood the greatest adversities. Speaking with the conviction of faith which far surpasses naive optimism, St. Paul boasts, “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.”
The treasure of faith held be St. Paul is also now held by us, in our own fragile “earthen vessels.” If we concentrate on ourselves and our very real weaknesses and failings, then we will surely crack under adversities. But if we turn to the treasure itself in which we behold the power of God, then even the greatest hardships and burdens of life will fail to break us, for “the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus....”
2 Cor 4:7-15/ Ps 115(116):10-11. 15-16. 17-18/ Mt 5:27-32
From today’s readings: “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels.... To You, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.... If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away.... ”
Apostolic Attitude
Atheists are at a loss to explain how historically, Christianity has withstood the greatest adversities. Speaking with the conviction of faith which far surpasses naive optimism, St. Paul boasts, “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.”
The treasure of faith held be St. Paul is also now held by us, in our own fragile “earthen vessels.” If we concentrate on ourselves and our very real weaknesses and failings, then we will surely crack under adversities. But if we turn to the treasure itself in which we behold the power of God, then even the greatest hardships and burdens of life will fail to break us, for “the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus....”
posted by FrPitstick | 6/09/2009
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