“We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” The image of an “earthen vessel” is given to us on the feast of an apostle, St. James, our patron. It serves as a vivid reminder that those who bring good news, the gospel, to others are as fragile and flawed as the rest of us. St. Paul wants us to understand that God acting through us does the real work. All of which says that the vocation to be apostles that each Christian, every one of us, bears does not come from our sterling qualities. Rather, God wants us to share how blessed we are as believers with others despite, not because of, ourselves.
JULY252019
By Church Staff
