‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
(2 Cor.12:7-9)
Reflection:
St Paul(1) reflects about this “thorn” in his side that made him feel weak. Our ‘thorns’ are made up of external situations and internal dispositions. Externally, we are constantly reminded of the ‘thorn’ of COVID-19: which has taken lives, disrupted livelihoods and yet, through God, we’ve been given the opportunity to grow as human beings.
Internally, our ‘thorns’ are the parts of ourselves that we view as weaknesses - the character traits we think are unchangeable, our downfalls, frustrations and struggles.
Once we acknowledge our ‘thorns’ we do not dwell on them, instead we take action and offer them to God so that our hearts may be open to His grace. But how?
We begin to work through our shortcomings with God(2) by preparing for and partaking in the sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion. These sacraments are vital to our spiritual progress, enhancing our relationships and our daily lives. The Sacrament of Holy Confession is the #1 way to invite God into our internal and external struggles and repent of them. Not because each struggle we have is “our fault”, but so we recognize our part and ask for God’s help(3).
Repentance is not to be confused with regret, remorse, guilt, or shame but freedom and responsibility so that we may attain an authentic life of honesty, integrity, and personal accountability to God, all others, and oneself.
The primary focus of repentance is not toward our past, but toward the future, which has become brighter due to the Divine Mercy, forgiveness, and hope offered in Christ Jesus(4). Our loving Father is always there running toward us to embrace us, we must only choose to turn toward Him(5).
By living life of ceaseless repentance(6)(7), God’s power is made perfect in and through our weaknesses. We too can be transformed like St Paul(8). When we turn toward Christ and give Him our ‘thorns’ through Confession He transforms us, our weaknesses, and our brokenness into His presence, His power, and His love.
References:
1) Read More About St Paul Here
2)Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
3)Matthew 18:18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Giving the Apostles and from them passed unto our clergy, the authority to bind and loose people of their sins and passions.
4) John Chryssavgis, Soul Mending, pgs 20-21.
5) Luke 15:11-32 Prodigal Son. We are the prodigal, and God is always there for us to embrace us every time we fall.
6)Orient our life toward God YouTube on Repentance/Confession
Internally, our ‘thorns’ are the parts of ourselves that we view as weaknesses - the character traits we think are unchangeable, our downfalls, frustrations and struggles.
Once we acknowledge our ‘thorns’ we do not dwell on them, instead we take action and offer them to God so that our hearts may be open to His grace. But how?
We begin to work through our shortcomings with God(2) by preparing for and partaking in the sacraments of Holy Confession and Holy Communion. These sacraments are vital to our spiritual progress, enhancing our relationships and our daily lives. The Sacrament of Holy Confession is the #1 way to invite God into our internal and external struggles and repent of them. Not because each struggle we have is “our fault”, but so we recognize our part and ask for God’s help(3).
Repentance is not to be confused with regret, remorse, guilt, or shame but freedom and responsibility so that we may attain an authentic life of honesty, integrity, and personal accountability to God, all others, and oneself.
The primary focus of repentance is not toward our past, but toward the future, which has become brighter due to the Divine Mercy, forgiveness, and hope offered in Christ Jesus(4). Our loving Father is always there running toward us to embrace us, we must only choose to turn toward Him(5).
By living life of ceaseless repentance(6)(7), God’s power is made perfect in and through our weaknesses. We too can be transformed like St Paul(8). When we turn toward Christ and give Him our ‘thorns’ through Confession He transforms us, our weaknesses, and our brokenness into His presence, His power, and His love.
References:
1) Read More About St Paul Here
2)Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
3)Matthew 18:18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Giving the Apostles and from them passed unto our clergy, the authority to bind and loose people of their sins and passions.
4) John Chryssavgis, Soul Mending, pgs 20-21.
5) Luke 15:11-32 Prodigal Son. We are the prodigal, and God is always there for us to embrace us every time we fall.
6)Orient our life toward God YouTube on Repentance/Confession
7) Read more about Repentance/Confession Here
8) Book of Acts Ch 9 Road to Damascus - The conversion and transformation of Saul the persecutor of Christians, to St Paul.
8) Book of Acts Ch 9 Road to Damascus - The conversion and transformation of Saul the persecutor of Christians, to St Paul.
