PRAYER

God, from dust we are formed and with Your breath we have life. You sculpt our being with Your masterful creativity. Although we are fragile like clay, Your Spirit empowers us to be strong in the world around us. Shine through us, so that all may see the light of Your Love. Amen.

READING

2 Corinthians 4:1-12

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

REFLECTION

In my early twenties, my parents lived in Qatar. I would visit them and for a short period, I lived there, teaching English. There were many outdoor markets at the time, one being a pottery market. I recall seeing hundreds of clay jars for sale. Important to note about clay jars is that they're all slightly different since they are all crafted by hand. They are also extremely fragile. One slight knock and they'll crack. Luxury pots are made from metals like gold or silver but these every day vessels are made of clay. They hold water, food or as the ancient Egyptians used them, to hold prestigious objects.

In the Scripture reading today, the Apostle Paul says we are jars of clay possessing a treasure. What is this treasure? It is the knowledge of the Gospel of Christ; that Jesus is the son of God, He died and was resurrected on the third day and through his sacrifice, God has made peace with us. We have eternal life when we believe and are given the Holy Spirit as a gift to help us journey through life on the righteous path. We are human. We are made from dust and are fragile, but with this treasure inside, we are made strong. The knowledge of the Gospel allows us to endure difficult situations that would otherwise crush us, because we have an eternal hope that God has won, and God's Kingdom will reign on Earth again some day. May God fill us with the Holy Spirit to the brim so that we can overflow with the joy of the Good News of the Gospel.

LENT CHECK IN

Try sculpting a bowl out of clay. As you work with the clay, think about how God has created you. Observe the fingerprints on the clay. Think about how God has imprinted on you. If you don't have clay, try thinking about ways God has imprinted upon the world and on your heart.