SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 07 07 24
OLD TESTAMENT READING: 2 Samuel 5:1-5,9,10
NEW TESTAMENT READING: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
GOSPEL Mark 6 1-13
We heard an amazing sharing from Paul. He was a great apostle of Christ and he was travelling many places and was sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and encouraging people to follow Jesus Christ and become a new creation.
It appears that he had a health problem which he says was like a thorn in the flesh. Paul says that the issue that he had made him humble and not feel too elated. However he pleads to God that his difficulty should be healed and that he should be able to do the work of the apostle.
He prays and asks God for the first time and there is no response there is only silence. He does not give up hope and prays and asks the second time and once again there is silence. Still he does not give up and pleads with God.
Paul tell us that this time there is a response from God, the message was ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’
The message was so extra ordinary. God is not going to take away his weakness but will support him in his weakness with his power. This is the power with which Paul will continues his ministry in spite of his weaknesses.
My Grace is sufficient for you. Such a wonderful assurance from God.
It is not Paul who takes all the credit for his glorious ministry, he cannot in view of his weakness. It is the power of God at work in him in spite of his weaknesses.
Once he gets this understanding, Paul now does not complain about his weakness but says he will boast about his weaknesses. What is there to boast about in weaknesses. He can boast that he can still do great things and do his work in spite of his weaknesses. He goes on to say, when I am weak I feel strong and that is the power of God at work in me.
This is the assurance that God gives all of us, his abiding presence in us and with us to be able to do great things amidst our limitations and weaknesses. We can joyfully say with confidence, when I am weak I feel strong and that is the power of God at work in me.