14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle
B
St. Francis De Sales Parish
July 8, 2012
When it comes to Power and
Weakness, which is stronger?
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P.
Amato
Lincoln’s Thistle
President Abraham Lincoln was asked on several
occasions why he kept an advisor who was a constant critic.
Lincoln told this story. He said that years ago he had seen a man
attempting to plow his field with an old horse.
The horse had a huge thistle in its side. Lincoln pointed out the thistle to the farmer
and offered to remove it.
But the farmer said, “Don’t remove that thistle! If
not for it, this old horse wouldn’t move an inch.”
Paul’s
Thorn
Lincoln’s story helps us to appreciate Saint
Paul’s words today.
Paul says that he has a “thorn in the flesh.” He
never says what the thorn is.
Scripture scholars speculate that the “thorn” might have been a chronic
physical condition like stuttering, maybe an emotional problem, or some moral
fault. We do know that is was a
disturbance for Paul says he begged the Lord to be freed of this “thorn,” but no such luck – it remained.
We may be like Paul in wanting to be freed of
the “thorn in our side.” It might be loneliness, depression, an
intestinal disorder, migraine headaches, a bad temper, and on it can go.
We too can have these “thorns” in ourselves. And
sometimes, maybe often, we just can’t get rid of them and they just won’t leave
us.
Power/Perfection/Weakness
Paul goes on to give us an insight into why we
have these “thorns.”
He says that God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power
is made perfect in weakness.” “Power is
made perfect in weakness.”
This is a great insight. Each of us has a certain amount of power – of
self-sufficiency, self-determination, even control or influence over
others.
Paul’s insight is that with this power, we can
grow complacent. This is why the farmer
did not want Lincoln to remove the thistle from the old horse – the thistle
kept him moving!
So, if we are aware of the “thorn” in ourselves, we will not get complacent. Instead, we will use whatever “power” we have to keep growing.
Also, if we remain aware of our “thorn,” we will be much more inclined
to be empathetic with others and their weaknesses. We will be less quick to judge, condemn, put
down, be harsh with others or talk about others.
God says to Paul, “Power is made perfect in weakness.” Our human power is made perfect in and
through our own weakness.
Divine Power
God
also says to Paul, “My grace is
sufficient for you.”
So,
human “power is made perfect in
weakness,” and now divine power or grace helps us to deal with our “thorns.” It may sound amazing, but divine energy,
love, and power flow through our human weakness.
Here
is a great irony of our human condition.
When we feel the most broken, divine power is potentially at its
greatest.
When
we feel weak and vulnerable, we come into touch with the transforming presence
of God that is an enormous strength for us.
I have listened to many folks who have shared that they are members of
Alcoholics Anonymous.
And
I have learned that AA and these individuals really understand what Paul is
saying here. In our human weakness,
whatever it is, we need to turn to the Higher Power – to the divine power.
The
divine power can help us in our weakness like nothing or no one else. And with this divine power, with God, death
can lead to life.
The
cross can lead to an empty tomb. Personal weakness can lead to newfound
strength.
And
all of this can happen because we realize that we cannot do it by ourselves. When we are aware of that “thorn,” when we are weak, broken, or
frustrated, we yield to the divine.
We
turn to the only place we can go. We let
go of self and yield to our Higher Power – to God, to the Lord Jesus, and then
great things can happen.
Conclusion
What insight Paul gives us today! “My grace is sufficient for you, for power
is made perfect in weakness.’”
For this reason, Paul could say, “I will boast of my weakness, in order that
the power of Christ may dwell with me.”
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