Our Venerable Father and Confessor Chariton (350); Holy Viacheslav, Czech Prince; Synaxis of the Venerable Fathers of the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev Who Repose in the Nearer Caves of the Venerable Anthony; Passing into eternal life of Blessed Nykyta Budka (1949), First Bishop of Canada and Confessor of Karaganda
2 Corinthians 4:6-15; Luke 6:17-23
Polyeleos Feast
Read 2 Corinthians 4:6-15
If there is one thing that we can garner from today’s epistle reading, it is this: the Lord has recreated us at baptism and despite all the hardships, tribulations, woes, sorrows, pains, and sufferings that we endure, the Lord is ALWAYS with us! St. Paul points out that the glory of God is in us, in earthen vessels of clay. The glory of Christ is in us, and if often revealed in us in the weakness of day-to-day existence. Even with sufferings, that fact that we make it through shows us the power belongs not to us but to the Lord. The Lord can work through us in these tribulations even as He works through others on me, to form me like clay is formed by a potter. It is in this way that, as St. Paul writes, “the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” We share in His life not only at baptism but each day, revealing His power and goodness, as we run the race to the finish line where we will receive our crowns.