Benedetto: A meditation for Yom Kippur

Towards Yom Kippur, the Jewish people is invited to repent and engage in a soul searching. Year after year, each one of us grows in the awareness that despite all our efforts we are not able to do the good we seek to do and we are not able to distance ourselves from the evil we see in our hearts.

Paul the Apostle writes powerful words about the strength that is hidden in weakness: " So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong " (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). The Apostle strongly insists that the treasury of grace preserved in within us is in "clay jars" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Here is a beautiful story from the Italian priest and author Bruno Ferrero, suitable for us so that we might take courage in accepting ourselves as we are, in faith that in the end God works in us and through us also builds up His Kingdom.

Each day a farmer brought water from the well to the village in two large jars, which he tied to the back of a donkey while he walked alongside it. From one of the jars, old and cracked, water dripped out all along the way. The other jar, new and perfect, preserved its contents without losing even a drop.

The old and cracked jar felt humiliated and devoid of value especially as the new jar did not stop showing off its superiority: "I do not even lose one single drop!"

One morning, the old jar confessed to its owner: " You know that I am conscious of my limitations. You are wasting your time, your labor and your money because of me! Each time we reach the village I am half empty. I ask your pardon for my weakness and my wounds".

A day later, while they were walking, the owner turned to the old jar and said: "Look at the sides of the path".

"They are beautiful, full of flowers," replied the jar.

"Only thanks to you," said the owner. "It is you who waters them each day. I bought a packet of flower seed and distributed the seed along the way, but you without knowing and without wanting, water them each day".