Readings:
Jer.18:1-6, P 146, Matt 13:47-53
Rev. Fr.
Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
LET GOD THE POTTER MOULD US INTO SPECIAL VESSEL FOR HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM
A
story was told of a beautiful clay pot used to decorate a garden. The clay pot
was the point of attraction to all, including its fellow ordinary clay. So one
day the ordinary clay approached the beautiful clay pot and said, we do not
doubt that you are clay just like us. But how come you have become so beautiful
and special that everyone admires you?
The
clay pot smiled and said: there was a time when I was nothing but a dumb lump
of red clay. Then, one day, a Potter came with a digger and a hoe, dung me out
of the dumb lump, and painfully separated me from my fellow clay and brought me
to his house. I cried out, but he ignored me.
He
rolled and pounded me on a wooden table several times without mercy. I cried
out, don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But the Potter suddenly placed me on a
spinning wheel and suddenly spun around and around and around until I lost all
consciousness. Just when I thought it was over, he placed me carefully into an
oven which is hotter than the hell fire.
Why
me? I cried out in anguish! But the potter only smiled and gently said: because
you are special! I struggled, yelled, knocked and broke several times, but the
Potter was patient and meticulous in ensuring that I adjusted to his will.
Realizing that I cannot win, I surrender completely to the will of the Potter,
and he only nods in understanding and quietly says: “it is not over yet!
Then
he pulled me out of the oven, and when the heat cooled, he carefully picked me
up and dusted away some dirt, and behold, I was transformed, looking so
beautiful and special. And the potter smiled and said: this is what you are meant to be. For God has
made you into a special vessel for a special purpose.
This
story reflects what prophet Jeremiah is telling us in our first reading today:
God is the Potter, and we are the clay. God has created humanity as beautiful
clay in his hands to be moulded into a beautiful and special vessel for the
heavenly kingdom. But humanity has sinned and rebelled against God and his plan
for us. Unless we repent and turn away from our sinful ways we will all perish.
Hence,
we are called to repentance, for there will be a day of judgement of which
Jesus, in our Gospel passage, used a parable to describe that the kingdom of
heaven will be like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all
kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they
collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are of no use.
Here, Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is open for all, but not all can be
suitable to dwell in it; only those who, on the judgement day, are found
suitable can be admitted into the kingdom.
Dear
friends, all God requires from us is for us to let him mould us into the
heavenly vessels that he planned for humanity. There is no doubt that sin has
destroyed our original nature, but just like when the pot potter was shaping
spoils in his hands, and he formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed
best to him. So will God re-mould us into a new vessel for his heavenly kingdom
if we repent from our pride and sinful ways of life?
This
is what we see in the life of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose memorial we
celebrate today. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was truly a holy man and a role
model that we can emulate in our own lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori was
remembered for his great piety and dedication to serve the people of God
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, sin and pride have separated humanity from your plans for us;
today, we come to you like clay in a dump lump, be our Potter once again and
re-mould us into that heavenly vessel which you planned for us. We ask this
through Christ our Lord. Amen. HAPPY NEW MONTH
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