THE THORN
8 July 2012
Rev. Barry W. Szymanski, J.D.
Minister of Pastoral Care
First Congregational Church of Wauwatosa

READING

2 Cor. 12:2-10

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 such a person— whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

SERMON

What does it mean to have problems in life? Does everyone have a problem of some sort? I know that what I am saying is simplistic, but the questions I asked go to the heart of what it means to be human: we all suffer in some way or another.

From birth forward we hurt. I see my little one-year-old granddaughter, Opal, the Princess, cry when her stomach hurts, as it did for months after she was born. And when my King, three year old Eddie, fell at the Domes and was bleeding from the back of his head as we went right down 27th Street to St. Luke’s Hospital, was in some hurt, he was brave, -- but he hurt! And when my wife and I exercise, we hurt afterward.

But there are the hurts of old age. And the hurts of friendships lost. And the harms caused to us by our families, as we were growing up – mostly unintentional, but sometimes intended. And the affronts we suffered during the years as we entered into and left friendships.

We experience, as we live, the physical aches, the psychological pains, the injuries from real and imagined offenses, the heartaches of love, and, even, the wounds of spirituality. Do we just accept all of this? Is this just our lot in life? Or are there other purposes to this? Is it possible that we grow stronger because of our injuries?

That every time that Opal and Eddie get a cold, I am told, their bodies become stronger in that they are more resistant to future colds. I understand that the purpose of vaccinations is for our bodies to ‘learn’ if you will, how to fight a disease.

Therefore, are their reasons that we suffer the injuries of heart and mind and emotions and soul? Do these wounds help us become stronger? Do they help us grow in character? Do they test us? Do they show us that we are not gods? But, instead, do they build up our integrity? Do they help us grow up an honorable person? Do they assist us in realizing who God is? And do they aid us in giving our souls to God?

And, as people who believe in God, isn’t that the core of our belief? That we come from God, are to live in and through God, and will at death return to God? This is what Paul was writing about in his second letter to the church members in Corinth. He stated that was given the gift of a handicap of some sort.

Did Paul consider the thorn, the barb, a gift? Did he consider that the handicap was meant to keep him in constant touch with his limitations? He called the problem that he continually faced: a messenger of Satan! ~ Was it meant to try to keep him down? To prevent him from preaching and from building churches? and from being in touch with his churches?

By the way, theologians have speculated on what this ‘thorn’ was, and whether it was a physical deformity, a speech impediment, a disease, an emotional problem, a spiritual problem, a difficulty or a weakness of some sort. What Paul eventually realized was that the weakness, the handicap, whatever it was, worked to bring him closer to God.

He prayed over his problem, and he began to recognize that the difficulty he experienced kept him from being too elated. Paul became conscious that his handicap prevented him from becoming too proud. So what did Paul do? He did what a spiritual person would do: he prayed to God to take his problem away.

That did not work. He did not give up. So he prayed to God a second time to remove that thorn. That did not work. He did not give up. So he appealed to God again --- this time he begged God to remove that thorn. Paul said he BEGGED God, and that is when he received what he felt was the a response from God,

in that God told him this:

“My grace is enough;
it's all you need.

My strength comes into its own
in your weakness."

Once Paul understood what God was telling him, he was glad to just be at peace with his thorn.

What Paul began to grasp was that God was telling him to stop focusing on what he, Paul, was considering to be a handicap to his preaching and living the Gospel, and starting churches, but, instead to consider to appreciating the handicap as a gift.

What Paul spiritually comprehended was that the strength of Christ was greater than Paul’s weakness. Paul finally understood that God wanted Paul to just be the messenger – and that Jesus Christ would take over! Paul finally knew that Jesus would work in the hearts of his audience.

Whatever the handicap that Paul had, Jesus would work around it – or work in spite of it. God’s message would be heard despite Paul’s weaknesses. That is the beauty of this letter from Paul to us.

Christ’s power is more than our power. Christ’s strength is more than our strength. Our power is in our prayer. Our power is in our very life. But the power to impact another person – that power belongs to Jesus the Christ. Whatever happens in another person is the result of that person’s openness to God’s grace.

We may feel ineffective – that is exactly what Paul felt – that is why Paul begged God to take away his handicap – his thorn. But God’s message was don’t be concerned— let me do the rest of the work. Paul finally cherished God’s words and was able to tell the church members in Corinth that on his own behalf he would not boast, except of his weaknesses.

How many of us would say the same? That I will not boast on my own behalf, but I will only boast about my weaknesses. I certainly would rather be proud of my accomplishments, and my successes, and what skills I have. I am not to clear that I want to boast of my many weaknesses.

Am I, Barry, really ready to accept the Lord’s promise that His grace is sufficient for me, for the power of God is made perfect in my very weakness.’ Am I, Barry, willing to boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me? That is my prayer today and tomorrow: that I will strive to do my best, and let God do the rest.

May your prayer be the same: That you be really ready to accept the Lord’s promise that His grace is sufficient for you, for the power of God is made perfect in your very weakness.’

And may your prayer be that you are willing to boast all the more gladly of your weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in you. And may that be your prayer today and tomorrow: that you will strive to do your best, and let God do the rest.

That was the Lord’s message to Paul. That is the message Paul wanted his congregation in Corinth to accept. And I firmly believe that this is the Lord’s message to each of us. Amen.