Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (Begin at "Therefore...")
"A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to...keep me from being too elated." 2
Corinthians 12:7.
Saint Paul had a thorn that he could never get rid of. Since he links it with the word "flesh," his
favorite word for sinners walking away from God, it must have been something more than a
physical disability.
His own Greek term for it portrays not a thorn sticking into him, but a thorn sticking out from
him. It was some place in his life where his own sinner-self was all too visible. What was it
really? He never says. So let's imagine.
Let's imagine that it was one of the seven thirsts, the primal drives that characterize us all. One
of Paul's thirsts he could never quench. It always managed to take control of him instead of vice
versa.
When he begged God for its removal, God always said: "You are going to be stuck with it. But
don't worry. My grace will cover you. My power will fill the bill as I continue to cover your
weakness." Upon hearing this he then pivots and starts boasting of his weakness. If it's Christcovered,
it's a plus.
The thorns of our poorly-managed thirsts need not terrorize us either. We too cannot keep our
sinner-selves from showing. How drastic is that? Depends on what we do when it happens.
Cope with it on our own and we're guaranteed losers. Link it to the power of the crucified and
it's taken care of. A done deal. Like Paul, we too are authorized to link our weaknesses to
Christ and join in Paul's feisty boast: "When I am weak, then I am strong!"
Prayer: Thorns not only hurt, dear God, they choke out our lives as they entwine us. Enliven us
with your grace to counteract the thorns that never seem to go away. Your grace is sufficient,
and covered with it, we are sufficient too for whatever is at hand. Amen.
"A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to...keep me from being too elated." 2
Corinthians 12:7.
Saint Paul had a thorn that he could never get rid of. Since he links it with the word "flesh," his
favorite word for sinners walking away from God, it must have been something more than a
physical disability.
His own Greek term for it portrays not a thorn sticking into him, but a thorn sticking out from
him. It was some place in his life where his own sinner-self was all too visible. What was it
really? He never says. So let's imagine.
Let's imagine that it was one of the seven thirsts, the primal drives that characterize us all. One
of Paul's thirsts he could never quench. It always managed to take control of him instead of vice
versa.
When he begged God for its removal, God always said: "You are going to be stuck with it. But
don't worry. My grace will cover you. My power will fill the bill as I continue to cover your
weakness." Upon hearing this he then pivots and starts boasting of his weakness. If it's Christcovered,
it's a plus.
The thorns of our poorly-managed thirsts need not terrorize us either. We too cannot keep our
sinner-selves from showing. How drastic is that? Depends on what we do when it happens.
Cope with it on our own and we're guaranteed losers. Link it to the power of the crucified and
it's taken care of. A done deal. Like Paul, we too are authorized to link our weaknesses to
Christ and join in Paul's feisty boast: "When I am weak, then I am strong!"
Prayer: Thorns not only hurt, dear God, they choke out our lives as they entwine us. Enliven us
with your grace to counteract the thorns that never seem to go away. Your grace is sufficient,
and covered with it, we are sufficient too for whatever is at hand. Amen.
For more information,
Prayers and counseling you can contact,
No comments:
Post a Comment