You will shine in the world like bright stars
because you are offering it the word of life. PH 2:15-16
2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-15
My Soul's Beloved,
St. Paul and every saint understood that faith in action can turn the world upside down. Looking at the 12 men You chose out of the many that followed You, and by worldly standards, they would not exactly be thought qualified for the great mission that was to be entrusted to them. They were not very educated; one among them was a tax collector, and some were fishermen. They were rough men. You had just three short years in which to teach them. They would walk with You, live with You, hear You speak to large crowds and to them personally in private. They would witness spectacular miracles, perhaps many of which are not recorded. In the end, when it seemed dangerous and they could possibly lose their lives, they deserted You. Only one would return to stand at the foot of the Cross. Peter, the chief of the Apostles, denied You not once but three times, and he did so with oaths. One betrayed You and committed suicide, for he truly did not know You at all. All he needed to do was repent, and You would have forgiven him, and today he would be venerated and elevated as one of the princes of the Church, just as we venerate the others.
Every baptized Catholic carries this treasure that St. Paul speaks of within us. We were created for greatness as children of the Most High God, sisters and brothers of the Son of God, empowered and sanctified by the Holy Spirit to live the Gospel with power. To be light and salt in the world that illumines and savors everyone we encounter every day of our lives. Sadly, this is not true. Although we have Your life in us and are empowered by the same Holy Spirit that has the potential to make great saints of us if we only desire and will it, we allow fear, the culture, and a lackluster faith to penetrate our lives and our souls. We live mediocre lives when in truth we could be like the Apostles, like St. Paul, and every saint that illumines and adorns the Church by the witness of their lives.
We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.
PSALM 115(116):10-11,15-18
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
I trusted, even when I said:
‘I am sorely afflicted,’
and when I said in my alarm:
‘No man can be trusted.’
PSALM 115(116):10-11,15-18
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
I trusted, even when I said:
‘I am sorely afflicted,’
and when I said in my alarm:
‘No man can be trusted.’
O precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
you have loosened my bonds.
is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people.
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.
MATTHEW 5:27-32
MATTHEW 5:27-32
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