First Reading - 2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Gospel - Matthew 5:27-32
In the first reading, Paul reminds us that “we hold this treasure in earthen vessels.” We are fragile and imperfect, yet God chooses to place His grace and power within us. Our weaknesses are not obstacles but opportunities for God’s power to shine more clearly. Paul speaks about being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down—but never destroyed. This is the life of a disciple: carrying the death of Jesus in our bodies so that His life may be revealed through us.
Our sufferings, struggles, and sacrifices are not meaningless. They serve a greater purpose—“so that the grace bestowed in abundance may cause the thanksgiving of many to overflow to the glory of God.” This reminds us that Christian life is not about avoiding hardship but allowing God to be glorified through it.
In the Gospel, Jesus once again calls us beyond the surface to the heart. He teaches that adultery is not just a physical act, but begins in the heart—with a look, a thought, a desire. Jesus invites us to interior purity, not just external obedience. He challenges us to take sin seriously, to the extent of being ready to give up whatever causes us to fall—even if it feels as difficult as losing a part of the body.
This teaching is strong because Jesus understands the seriousness of sin and its power to separate us from God and others. Sin always begins in the heart, and that is where healing must also begin.
Dear friends, we are called to live as earthen vessels filled with grace. We may feel weak, tempted, and imperfect—but the treasure within us is the life of Christ. Let us guard that treasure with purity of heart and faithfulness in action.
Let us ask God today for the grace to live in inner freedom, to choose what is good, and to witness to His power even in our weakness. May His life be revealed through us for the glory of God and the building up of others.
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