(Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.)
The deepest longings we have is treasure, but treasure in earthen vessels. This is true of our faith as well as of our talents. St Paul speaks of himself as an earthen vessel. He carries the dying of Jesus so that he can show others the resurrection of Jesus.
Earthen vessels can hold precious things. As such, they are meant to protect, but easily make available the richness contained in them. Somehow the treasure of Paul’s faith in the death and resurrection of Christ was made manifest through the earthiness of Paul’s body. The infirmities of Paul’s life and the difficulties and persecutions he endured allowed the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection to be proclaimed. The fragility, the brokenness, of Paul’s body allowed the rich fragrance of Christ to spread throughout the world.
Our brokenness is not punishment. It is not the cruelty of God at work. It is the opening of the richness of God’s fragrance to others. The richness that we have is not ours to keep, but for us to spread out to others. All that we have, we have for others, not for ourselves.
In Paul’s writings, he spoke of equality, of making inequalities equal. Sharing financial resources and sharing faith enables rich and poor and all Christians to live together as one in Christ. Our brokenness enables Christ’s wholeness to permeate our lives and the lives of those around us. For Paul, this was a cause of joy for his people.
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels. Through our brokenness, the power of Christ is at work. We need not fear our faults and failings. God’s power works through human weakness and the breakability of our vessels. We belong to a God of equality. We have received from the brokenness of Christ and made whole so that we can be broken to spread the healing balm of Christ to the whole world, so that the equality continue.