“WE HAVE THIS TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS” (2 Cor 4:7)

⏰Feast of St. James (25 July 2017)

????2 Cor 4:7-15; Ps 126:1-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6 (R.v.5); Matt 20:20-28

My dear, today, I pray that God may make you a topic for testimonies in this week and beyond. May the works of your hands experience great transformation and success through Christ our Lord. Amen

As we celebrate the Feast of St. James, St Paul reminds us that there is something beyond and more valuable than our physical bodies in us. We might suffer in this physical body but this treasure in us endures forever and journeys with us even beyond the present life. That treasure is our soul which St Augustine said can only rest when it rests in God.

The martyrs understood the value of the treasure in us. They also knew that no physical torture can destroy this treasure. And so they were encouraged to hold on to their faith for they understood the words of the psalmist, “Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap” (Ps 126:5).

St James was privileged to be the first apostle to lay down his life for Christ in fulfilment of his response to Jesus to drink the same chalice, making himself one with the death of Christ.

May Christ also enable us to participate in that chalice courageously and joyfully, and so win the crown of victory in the end. Amen.

Have a glorious day ahead. Peace be with you.