Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:1-12
1Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness”, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Our lives our impossible. When we claim that we’re disciples of Jesus we do so knowing that we can never live up to the lofty standards. We still sin and fall short. We still lose hope, and maybe treat others with less patience than we might—especially during quarantine. A common criticism of Christians is that our actions belie our beliefs: that is, if we really believe what we say then why don’t we act differently? Or, since we do not always act in accord with our stated beliefs, do we really believe what we say? These questions should be (and are) haunting to many of us. Jesus says plenty of things about turning the other cheek and giving what we have to the poor. In light of our compliance, can we really call ourselves disciples? There are several ways we rationalize this tension. One way is the old formulation from Luther, simil justus et peccator—both justified and a sinner. We recognize that our outwards lives don’t always reflect the truth about us—that by grace we are saved through faith. We are both saved and sinners. This suggests our limitations that Paul touches on in Second Corinthians: “we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” The things that are good about us, the redeemed things, witness that God’s grace is at work within us. We are works in progress, and both our brokenness and fear, our growth and our hope, which in itself is testimony that God is at work even and especially our places of hurt and challenge. “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Holy God, let your grace unfold within us, meeting us in just the places where we need you most, persevering in the hope of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
