My Journey to God

Silver Chalice

“Oh, look at me! I’m such a pretty chalice, am I not?
Quite nice compared to other cups, with just a few dark spots!”
“Yes, my darling chalice,” the maker fondly said,
“But I made you of pure silver, not of unrefined, gray lead.
When I first made you, precious one, you were not only clearer-
My image could reflect in you as in a perfect mirror.
And though you are still dear to me and cannot be replaced,
You’re in need of quite a polishing to reach your purest state.”
“Well, I don’t think I am all that bad—I think most would agree.
But if you think I can look better—well, then polish and we’ll see.”
My maker was delighted, but with caution he forewarned
As he grabbed a perfect, seamless cloth of purple unadorned,
“At times this may be painful, and you’ll want to turn away.
But persevere and know it will be worth it all someday!”
I held my breath expecting to be suddenly immersed
In something that would instantly and painfully reverse
The tarnish that I still believed was really not so bad—
But his plan was very different than the one I thought he had.
His work was ever constant, but methodical and slow
As he’d pick a little spot and gently rub until it glowed.
And so he moved from flaw to flaw, revealing as he went
Just how tarnished I’d become, and full of nicks and dents.
Although at times it hurt to see a certain spot exposed,
He worked with love, and it felt good to see a stain disposed.
Some flaws took months, and others years, before they’d fade away,
But slowly light reflected through dark and murky gray.
Renewed, I pray my maker works until he holds me up
And sees his mirror-imaged self when he looks upon this cup.

By Natalie Hoefer
 

(Natalie Hoefer is a reporter for The Criterion and a member of St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis. The poem was inspired by a story she heard of a seminarian who asked a silversmith how he knows when silver is refined. “When I can see my face perfectly reflected in it as in a mirror,” was the answer, which explains why the Bible talks of God refining our hearts like silver [Mal 3:3]–so we reflect God to others.) †