When we have something of great value and want to keep it safe, we probably think of padlocks, alarms or steel doors. We even may use the phrase, “It is locked up tighter than Ft. Knox” to indicate just how important this item is to us and how important it is that it never be lost or stolen.
But as we see in today’s first reading, the most valuable item each of us will ever possess is not stored in a super secure location but is, instead, stored in an earthen vessel, one that is made from the dust we once were and will once again become – our bodies. So what is this most valuable possession, this treasure we hold in our bodies? It is the Gospel of the Lord, or as some would say, the teachings of Christ that fills our hearts, souls and minds.
What a wonderful feeling it is to know that we own something more valuable than all the gold in Ft. Knox and that this magnificent treasure is within us each and every day. But as Paul alludes to in the reading, with great treasure comes great responsibility, duty and sacrifice, for living the Gospel is not easy. Much like the old saying about knowing too much for your own good, having our earthen vessel filled with the Gospel will at times leave us afflicted but not constrained; perplexed, but not destroyed; persecuted, but not abandoned.
Jesus never said that it would be easy to follow his teachings, but isn’t that what God really wants of us? To live a life of choices that glorify Him and our relationship with Him? To do the right thing when it comes to serving others, even when no one is watching? To live a life filled with love for all mankind?
During your Examen of Consciousness, think about this wonderful gift that we have and God’s will for each of us. Do we put this gift to good use; or, do we have it locked up tight, treasuring it and saving it only for our personal needs and desires? If it is locked up, unlock it and find ways to use it, by helping others, by sharing the Good News, or by just smiling at someone in line at the grocery store and offering them a kind word.
God did not give us this gift to hoard, for the Gospel is for everyone. He gave it to us to share for the greater glory of God, so that others may know of His love for us. And remember, this gift cannot be exhausted, no matter how hard we try, so share it with others liberally, confident that our earthen vessels will never in our lifetime be depleted of the teachings of Christ.
Steve Scholer
I came to Creighton to attend law school in 1976 and following 5 years of private practice I started what I thought would be a 4 year job to help Fr. James Hoff, S.J. raise funds for the Campaign for Creighton. Little did I know that the many wonderful people I would soon meet, both here on campus and across the entire country, over the next few years would lead me to stay and continue to support the mission of this University. My wife is a Creighton graduate and our son, Frank, is a Xavier undergraduate and Creighton law graduate. Our daughter, Paige, has both her undergraduate and master’s degree from Creighton.
I do not participate in social media websites so posting my personal interpretation about what the readings mean to me is a novel experience for me. However, being required to put pen to paper forced me to become more reflective about what God is really trying to say to me and this has helped me in my daily prayer life - to slow down and let the Word of God dwell within me instead of racing through the daily devotions.
