Earthen Vessels

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.
(2 Cor 4: 1-11)

As a Presbyterium (Community of Priests) of the Archdiocese, we had our Lenten Recollection last March 10. Fr. Tony Calautit led our reflection on the Spirituality of the Earthen Vessel. The above passage was our guide.

True enough, we, priests are like earthen vessels - we are made of humble matter, gathered, kneaded and molded by the Great Potter, to hold treasures of untold value. Formation, intensive and rigorous may be adequate but never enough. We are and shall remain earthen vessels - vulnerable, weak, sinful.

Our venerable seminary confessor once said, "when God called you, he called all of you - your strengths, your weaknesses, your idealisms, your vulnerabilities, your saved nature, and your fallen nature - all of who you are, your total humanity - unique goodness and even your weakness."

First in the Spirituality of the Earthen Vessel then is humility - to accept our vulnerability, frailty and sinfulness, and rely not on our own efforts but to cooperate with the grace of God - so that the power of God may be at work in us.

But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was:

"My grace is all you need,
for my power is greatest when you are weak."

I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12: 7-10)