Friday, June 17, 2005
SATURDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
June 18, 2005
SATURDAY 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - YR I
A Daily Reflection on the Readings of the Day...
2 CORINTHIANS 12:1-10
Brothers and sisters: I must boast; not that it is profitable, but I
will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in
Christ who, fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body
I do not know, God knows), was caught up to the third heaven. And I
know that this man (whether in the body or out of the body I do not
know, God knows) was caught up into Paradise and heard ineffable
things, which no one may utter. About this man I will boast, but about
myself I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. Although if I
should wish 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 because of the abundance of the
revelations. 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.
MATTHEW 6:24-34
Jesus said to his disciples: "No one can serve two masters. He will
either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. "Therefore I tell you, do
not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your
body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more
than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap,
they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a
single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But
I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like
one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows
today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more
provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, `What
are we to eat?' or `What are we to drink?' or `What are we to wear?'
All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you
need them all. .But seek first the Kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not
worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for
a day is its own evil."
REFLECTION
In the first reading Paul boasts about a spiritual, a mystical
experience he once received. It must have been an extra- ordinarily
deeply moving encounter for him. He recalls that it occurred exactly
fourteen years earlier and he speaks of a vision, a revelation from the
Lord. He's confused about what happened during it. He doesn't know
whether he was in his body during the vision or out of it. He does know
that he was in "the third heaven," that is, very close to the Lord, in
the Lord's presence. And he is certain that human words are incapable
of describing what he saw or of expressing what he heard.
Paul boasts about this vision to the Corinthians because many of them,
disturbed by false teachers, doubted his credentials. In the passage
immediately preceding today's gospel Paul recounts the many physical
sufferings he has undergone for the sake of preaching Christ's name.
Could any other teacher claim to have suffered as much? Today he points
to a God-given mystical experience as further evidence that God has
truly appointed him to the ministry of evangelization.
Paul however feels he should boast not so much about the great things
that God has done for him, but rather about his weaknesses. He tells
the Corinthians that less he become proud and overly elated because of
the mystical gifts given him, God also afflicted him with a "thorn in
his flesh." He does not say precisely what this affliction was. Most
commentators hold that it was a physical defect of some sort, perhaps
eye trouble or epilepsy, perhaps something unattractive in his physical
appearance, or a speech defect.
Paul begged the Lord three times to remove this ailment from him
because without it he would be more effective in his ministry. And God
says "No!" God replies, `if you are weak, then the power you manifest
is clearly seen to be not your power but mine at work in you.'
It doesn't make sense then to bemoan the limited talents we bring to
the work of the Lord, to bemoan our failures and our weaknesses. It is
not we to whom success in ministry is to be attributed. It is the
Lord's doing. Accepting our weaknesses is simply recognizing reality.
If our weaknesses are evident to the world about us, through our
weaknesses the Lord's power will more perfectly be made manifest to the
world.
PRAYER
"Lord, free me from needless worries and help me to put my trust in
you. Make my first concern your kingdom and your righteousness. Help me
to live each day with trust and gratitude for your providential care
for me".
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