2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Paul's Thorn
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Galatians 1:18-20
Paul Meets Peter and James
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Luke 9:48
The Least Will Become Greatest
48 Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest."
Matthew 19:30
The Last Will be First
30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
John 13:34-35
Jesus Commandment to Love One Another
34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
St. Paul writes about a weakness he had in his personal life...He was given a thorn in his flesh...The thorn was a messenger of Satan...Sent by the evil one just to torment him...Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away from him....But He said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me...That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties...For when I am weak, then I am strong...
St. Paul saw strength in weaknesses, and the story of Jesus...He had heard about the unusual Rabbi whose ministry was about helping the weak, the outcast, those needing forgiveness, and those needing mercy, those needing help in their own weaknesses...St. Paul had talked to original Disciples and to Jesus' brother James and found One who did not teach about strength and fame or force or strength, but One who talked about love and mercy...Even in our weaknesses we can find strength, because of Him...Even nailed and dying on a cross we can see the weakness of the body and the fragility of life...No one had given it much thought to the Old Testament Messiah hanging, bleeding, and dying on a cross...The defeat of the Anointed One dying on the cross and being put in a tomb is an odd story about the One who is God in the flesh...Who would believe this?...Who can believe that the Son of God would be crucified and symbolized by a cross?...But that is our symbol -the Cross...A symbol of weakness, and yet of strength...A story of those who are weak, who are made strong...The story of those who are the least, who are made the greatest...The story of those that are last are in His Kingdom put first...
Jesus has overcome the world, not by strength, but by the weakness on the cross...A weakness found in the strength of His LOVE...