The Power in Our Weakness
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this person was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and heard ineffable things, which no one may utter. About this person I will boast, but about myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. For if I should choose to boast, I would not be foolish, for I would be telling the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me.
Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Grace Prayed For
This passage prompts us to pray for the grace to embrace our weaknesses and sufferings, not as obstacles, but as opportunities for God’s power to be made perfect in us. We can pray for the humility to stop begging for the removal of our “thorns” and, instead, to trust in the sufficiency of Jesus’s grace.
Reflection
How has Jesus’s love impacted your life? It’s a question that calls for an honest and humble answer. This passage from 2 Corinthians, though it speaks of extraordinary visions, finds its true power in a profound lesson of intimacy. The Apostle Paul, in a moment of vulnerability, reveals the heart of a disciple’s relationship with God. He admits to a “thorn in the flesh,” a persistent suffering he begged the Lord to remove. What Jesus offers in return isn’t a miraculous cure, but an even greater gift: the gift of His presence in our weakness.
Jesus doesn’t remove our struggles; instead, He meets us in them. This is the heart of intimate discipleship. It’s not about being strong enough for God, but about allowing our weakness to become the very space where His strength and power can rest within us. When we are at our most vulnerable, our most broken, when we feel the thorn pressing in, that is precisely when we are most open to Him. It’s in those moments that we are invited to lean on Him, to surrender our burdens, and to experience His grace as truly sufficient. His power is “made perfect in weakness.”
This is the message we are called to bring to the world. Our mission is not to present a flawless life, free from pain and struggle. The world already has an abundance of polished, perfect facades. Instead, we are to be a living testament to the truth that the power of Christ dwells in our brokenness. When we share our story of how Jesus has loved us, even in our weaknesses, we are evangelizing in the most authentic way. Our vulnerability becomes a bridge to others, an invitation for them to discover the same rest and strength we have found in Him. We partner with Jesus to restore creation by first allowing Him to restore us, showing others that true strength is found not in our own efforts, but in the gentle, powerful, and intimate presence of our Triune God in our lives.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Ways to Evangelize in Day-to-Day Life:
Be a joyful presence: As Paul was content in his weaknesses, so too can we find a deep, abiding joy in our relationship with Christ. This quiet joy, even in the midst of difficulty, can be a powerful and attractive witness to a world that is searching for hope.
Be authentic and transparent: Share your struggles in an honest and faith-filled way. When someone asks how you are, a simple answer like, “I’m going through a tough time, but I know Jesus is with me,” can be a powerful witness.
Use your gifts in service: Volunteer for a cause you care about. When you serve others, whether in your community or at your church, you are partnering with Jesus to restore creation.
Pray for others openly: When a friend is struggling, offer to pray for them right then and there. It’s a simple act that demonstrates your reliance on God and invites them to experience His love.
Practice forgiveness: The world is burdened by unforgiveness. By offering forgiveness to those who have wronged you, you are living out the Gospel message of reconciliation and restoring a piece of God’s creation.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post