Thorn

 

The Spiritual Waiting Room

Thorn

Trials   Suffering

Humbles   Strengthens   Powers

My Grace Is Sufficient

Content

(Photo and poem by Kathy McNamara)

Scripture:   2nd Corinthians 12:7 to 9

So that I might not become too proud, a thorn in the flesh was given to me. Three times I asked the Lord that it might be taken from me.

But the Lord said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you. 

Power is made sufficient in weakness."

I would rather boast about my weakness so that the power of Christ might dwell in me.

Reflection

Everyone wonders what that thorn in the flesh St. Paul is talking about. Different theories have been proposed but no one really knows exactly what it is.

It must have been very upsetting for Paul. He didn't ask just once but three times. He really wanted the Lord to take it away.

The response of God here is very direct. God seems to be saying, "Don't worry about it. I have you covered."

Paul is reassured by the words of the Lord. It seems counterintuitive. How can power come from weakness? It doesn't seem to make any sense.

Paul understands exactly what the Lord is trying to communicate. If we become weak, the power of Christ can come into our lives and transform our weakness into strength.

I remember experiencing that in my life many times. Once I was conducting a retreat for the teenagers in the parish and it seemed like many of them were not responding.

I turned to the Lord and asked Jesus to touch their hearts. I knew that I did not have the answer, but I believed that Jesus did. 

The rest of that retreat was amazing. The teens had a very powerful experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and were very open to the grace that God wanted to shower on them. You could feel the power!

That power of Jesus can overcome the many thorns that we will inevitably face. It is important that we bring our "thorns" to Jesus honestly and completely in our prayer.

Jesus wants to fill us with grace.

That grace is always sufficient for us!

1. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when your own personal weakness was overcome by the power of Jesus?

2. How honest are you in sharing your "thorns" with Jesus in prayer?

3. Do you feel that God's grace is sufficient for you?

4. What do you feel as you reflect on Kathy's photo?

(Scripture adaptation, reflection, and questions by John J. McNamara)