Clay Jars

Pentecost 2 – June 2, 2024

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Psalm 81:1-10
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Mark 2:23-3:6

When we read Paul’s letters we are at a slight disadvantage in that we do not know exactly what issues he is addressing. Second Corinthians is no different. In this letter it is even more complicated in that it seems that it is a compilation of two or more of Paul’s letters. We know that Paul had planned to visit Corinth, told them of his impending visit, and then changed his mind for some reason. The Corinthians were hurt and a rumor that he did not come because of the issues that had come up in his previous visit where, it seems, he may have lost his temper. Why he did not visit we will never know. He talks about some crisis he experienced some time before he wrote which may be what prevented him from visiting. So he begins this letter reassuring the Corinthians of his love for them. Then he reminds them that their faith comes from Jesus not from another person. Remember that in his first letter to the Corinthians Paul reminded them that they were all one in Christ for one purpose. That is again his emphasis here. Paul calls them to put away their hurt and anger and work together for the mission of the church. 

We can only do that because the gift that we share is from God. For we are but fragile people – clay jars if you like. If we are not careful, anger and hurt can take over our lives and prevent us from living the way God desires. We can allow our hurt to take hold in our families, among our friends, in our neighborhood, and, like the Corinthians, in our church. You know that. We confessed that as we began our worship today. Yes we are clay jars easily and often broken – all of us. So what must we do?

Sometimes we try to find new jars, leaving the old ones behind, only to find that they too can be shattered. Sometimes we refuse to admit that our jars have been broken and blame our troubles on other things. Sometimes we try to fix our jars by ourselves. While all of these attempts can help for a while, we delude ourselves thinking they are permanent. There is only one repairer of our broken lives. In fact, a careful look at our own lives we will see many places where our broken lives have been glued back together by God’s love. 

By reminding us how fragile our lives are, Paul directs us to the great potter. Not only did God make this clay vessel that is us, God is the one who puts us back together when we are broken by the world and our own misguided decisions. Listen to Paul who knows. Listen to your heart. Pick up the pieces of your broken lives and hand them to God in prayer. For the one who gave his only son to die for us, who washed us in the waters of baptism, and fed us at this table will make us whole.