Everyone's heard the old adage, "You can't judge a book by it's over." Simply put, it means that the words printed on the inside of any literarywork are of far greater worth than the richly embossed exterior of a volume. The same holds true for people as well. In today's society, much emphasis is placed on physical appearance. We laud and seek to emulate our athletes, movie stars and other celebrities, as if they possessed something valuable because of their outward beauty. But the Apostle Paul tells us something completely different in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians. He writes: "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Cor 4:7). As Orthodox Christians, we realize that our bodies are temporary, fragile and expendable. Yes, we are "temples of the Holy Spirit," but it is what we put into that "temple" that is really important. The most precious treasure we have within us is THE GRACE OF GOD. We must allow Him to work within us, guiding our decisions and strengthening our character. How does God become a part of our inner being? By virtue of our baptism, we have"PUT ON CHRIST." Through frequent reception of the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and through our constant practicing of what had been preached to us, the Lord dwells within us, cleansing us from every blemish and iniquity as He strives to save our souls.

   The challenge for each of us is to live our lives in a manner that will enable others to see this"treasure"of which St. Paul writes. Do others see Christ when they look at you? If not, why not? It is something for all of us to ponder.

The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin......... Vestal, Cliffwood, New Jersey.........Litho in U.S.A.