Sunday, July 8, 2012

Power of God perfected in weakness



"...That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundances of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated." 2 Corinthians 12:7

Hi! Long time to write to. Due to the fact that I will never be able to tell you everything that has happened in practically a year I will just tell you about the major events coming up/most important.

1) My sister-in-law is going to have a baby!! She's due this December/January.
2) My sister, Jeanne, is getting married in a week and 6 days!!
3) I finished my second year at my community college! I have one more year left and then am hoping to transfer to WWU in Fall 2013

So much has happened over the past year, I can't even explain it. All I can say is that I have changed...a lot...and for the better I think.
Now, let me get to today's reading.
I want to focus on the second reading written by Paul to the Corinthians. This reading has confused many a Christian. He talks about weakness and a thorn in his flesh. This thorn, an ailment of some kind, he says was given to him so that he would not become to elated because of all revelations. People have always wondered what this thorn was and why he so desperately wanted God to take it away. He said

 "Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me..."

First, let me clarify that the "three times" is more of an expression, explained best by Father Robert Barron. He is saying that over and over again he has asked God to take it away, repeatedly asked...not just three.
What was it that was so painful he asked God to take it away so many times? What is this thorn he talks about? A physical ailment? Some say that perhaps he was going blind, or he was old and could not walk so easily. Was it a speech impediment? Some say perhaps he had a problem speaking which made it hard for him to preach the good news.
It's clearly not a simple problem in the passing moment. It's a long painful thing. Every person has a thorn in the flesh, something that bothers you like a stone in your shoe. I'm sure you've encountered your own difficulties that you've asked God to take away, I know I have. For myself I consider my anger, my impatience, and my lack of courage to preach the good news a thorn in my side.

However, it is apparent to me that that part of the passage is not as important as the rest. People often forget the rest of this reading because they are too busy wondering about Paul's thorn. The whole point of this passage is weakness, and what Paul is trying to say is that through our weaknesses power in God becomes perfected. God said to Paul,

"My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."

No matter what the suffering is, God's grace is sufficient. If you're connected to God then anything can, in principle, be endured. Paul does not rejoice about the many revelations God has given him but rather in the weaknesses that were given. 
Somehow the weakness of the cross is the revelation of the power of God. Isn't that incredible? Who would have guessed this?
Father Robert Barron had a couple of theories about why weakness, failure, and suffering can be power.
First, Suffering can force us to rely on the power of God. When I am content with my lives I rest in my own ego, God becomes an afterthought. But then I suffer, I fail, I come up against a brick wall, am blocked, I am forced in a  new way to rely upon God, to decenter myself away from the ego and to God. Nothing does this more effectively than suffering.

Second, sometimes suffering, the conscious bearing of suffering, can affect the taking away of sin. Paul said,

"I'm content with weakness, insults, hardship, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ."
Christ didn't fight evil on it's own terms, he didn't answer insult with insult, or persecution with persecution. Christ took upon himself the sin of the world and thereby took it away. He put a wrench in the works that usually governs human affairs. Violence meets with violence, injustice meets with answering injustice...etc. By bearing this he took away the sin of the world so we his followers could unleash power precisely through our suffering.

It's interesting, my mom had this theory....She once told me that the reason America was slowly losing it's faith was because we are too comfortable. Look at countries that are suffering, like Africa or South America.  There are entire towns, cities, that are Catholic that work toward building a stronger community in Christ so that they can endure their hardships. During the Great Depression in the 1930's faith communities were so strong because they needed Gods help to overcome the weaknesses of the world.
Now look at us. The numbers of Christians who are actively involved with their communities is decreasing. Oh sure, people are converting right and left but that's it. "There, I'm Christian. I believe in God!...Let's go have a party!"
Priests and nuns are getting older and not as many young men and women want to become priests or nuns to take these aging people's places. It's very sad to me, the morals of today upset me so much...I pray constantly for the Catholic people that they might open their eyes and hearts and become more involved with each other to spread the good news of our faith.

In conclusion to today's reading, Paul said,

"When I am weak, then I am strong."
 It is my weakness that allows the strength and power of God to surge into me and through me into the world. I hope that both you and I can look at our weaknesses in this way so that we can become closer to God and to his kingdom in heaven.

May the Grace and Peace of God remain always with you!
God Bless, 

~Katherine
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