When I am weak, then I am strong

The Pauline Family celebrates the feast of Saint Paul, the apostle, every 30^th of June. It is really worth reflecting some of his messages which many times find an echo in our own lives. Maybe this is the reason why we can easily associate or identify ourselves with this great apostle because of his down-to-earth character and his spontaneous relationship with all those with whom he came in contact with. 

We have these words of Paul in his letter to the Corinthians that should encourage us all as we face our own faults and failings;   ‘so I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness so that the power of Christ may dwell in me, for when I am weak, then I am strong.” Paul knew that his weakness was like a magnet that attracted the strength and power of Christ.

Enduring his own struggles Paul was able to sympathize and support others in their struggles. We all have our own thorn in the flesh; something in our personality, something in our life style, something in our relationship with others that we would well do without. Conscious of our weakness we tend to get depressed. We wonder if we will ever be free of our inadequacy, ever be the person we want to be. Like Paul we beg to be thorn free.

Following the example of Paul, maybe we can learn to be content with our weaknesses for the sake of Christ, trusting that when we are weak it is then we attract, like a magnet, the strength of Christ.

God’s grace is sufficient for each one of us, not just where insults and hardships are concerned, but even when it comes to our sins. If only we do not let go of our waiting for him, asking his help, trusting he will rid us of our sins in his own time for Christ is our strength and Christ is our salvation.

To one and all, happy feast of Saint Paul!

Reflecting on St. Paul’s Hymn of Love

Love is not primarily a feeling or emotion. It is willing the good of the other. When we love, we escape our own clinging egotism and live for someone else. To love is to leap joyously out of the self.

“Love is patient, love is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Many of us are good or just to someone else so that he or she, in turn, might be good or just to us. This is not love, but rather indirect egotism. When we are caught in the rhythm of that sort of reciprocal exchange, we are very impatient with any negative response to a positive approach that we have made.

If someone responds to our kindness with hostility or even indifference, we quickly withdraw our compassion. But the person characterized by true love is not interested in reciprocation but simply in the good of the other. In other words, he/she is willing to wait out any resistance.

True love has nothing to do with resentment, for it wants the success of the other. And the person who loves is not conceited, because she feels no need to raise herself above the other. Just the contrary: she wants the other to be elevated, and hence she takes the lower place with joy. Once we understand the nature of true love, we know why “it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). The one who loves is not focused on himself but on the object or person of his love. He is not preoccupied with his own weariness or disappointment or frustration. Instead he looks ahead, hoping against hope, attending to the needs of the one he loves.

“Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). In heaven, when we are sharing the divine life, even faith will end, for we will see and no longer merely believe; hope will end, for our deepest longing will have been realized. But love will endure, because heaven is love. Faith, hope, love remain; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

To everyone, may you have a fruitful and joyful month of June in the company of Saint Paul!