Building Upon Rock
July 03, 2024
Fr. John Riccardo
”Brothers and sisters: That I, Paul, might not become too elated, because of the abundance of the revelations, 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.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
I can, much to my chagrin, quickly fall into a sort of spiritual temper tantrum with the Lord when things don’t go as I would like them to, or imagine they should. I would guess more than a few of us do the same. Somehow, there lurks in my mind an image of God that is much more like Aladdin and the genie than the biblical vision of God. I imagine God is there for me, to grant my wishes, to listen to my advice, and if only He would do that everything would be OK. This is silly, I know, but I think it’s alarmingly common among many people.
Not too long ago, I was speaking with someone who had just received very sobering news. A loved one was sick. She admitted to me that though she had grown up believing in God she no longer did. The cause? Suffering. On a variety of levels. Because, in her words, God had not stopped a variety of things from happening, she no longer believed.
I understand. As she explained the image she had of God it was clear that it was an unbiblical vision. She had forgotten that pain, suffering, trauma, and death were never part of the plan. She had forgotten that there are not two persons on the stage – us and God, but three persons – us, God, and an enemy. Perhaps most importantly she had a notion that Jesus’ death and resurrection meant no more suffering for us now, or that if we only believed in Him He would protect us from any and all harm here in this life.
Paul, speaking about his own trauma, is eager to make sure that our faith isn’t built on sandy foundations like the ones above but on rock, so that when (not if) storms, trials, hardships, horrible diagnoses, suffering and so much more come, we don’t collapse. This is a man who was stoned and left for dead, beaten with rods, shipwrecked, and more – all because he is a disciple of Jesus and is preaching the gospel! In addition to all of that, now he tells us that God has mysteriously seen fit to allow a messenger of the enemy himself to torment and harass him with some “thorn” (better translated perhaps as “pointed stake”) to keep him from becoming conceited over the extraordinary experiences he has had of God. Wow.
Like the great pastor that he is, Paul goes on to tell us how he handled this. He didn’t resign himself to this, but pleaded with God to take this away! Not just once but three times. And God said, “No. All you need is My grace, My power, which is made more manifest not in your strength but in your weakness.” Paul’s response? He boasted of his weakness! “I have learned to be content in all things,” he writes.
Paul knew, to be sure, that Jesus had defeated Sin, Death and Satan. He also knew, however, that these things have not yet been destroyed. Furthermore, he understood that the kingdom of God continues to break into this fallen and redeemed world precisely through our own suffering, our own sharing in Jesus’ passion, however much we might not want that. Paul knew that Jesus did not tell us that if we believed in Him everything would go smoothly – that idea is nowhere to be found on the pages of the New Testament. What is found is that God will provide the grace, the power, the strength, and more that we need for every situation that comes our way. Not in advance but precisely at the moment that we need it.
God’s grace is sufficient. Enough. What we need to get us through the moment, however painful, and traumatic. Not sometimes. All the time.
Let us lift up all those who, like Paul, are pleading today with God about their “pointed stakes” that are causing them so much pain. Let us ask St. Paul to intercede for us to better understand perhaps life’s most painful lesson: suffering is never, ever, ever, ever in vain when it is united to the cross of Jesus. If you and I had been there on that Friday we now call “Good,” we would have surely said to one another, “What an absolute disaster, a waste, a tragedy. God has let us down.” And we would have been wrong. God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. But He knows what He’s doing. And He’s a good Father. And one day, on the other side of the veil, we’ll see how everything works for good for those who love God.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
July 2024
For the many leaders across the country who attended the Leadership Immersives on the ACTS XXIX campus in June, that seeds sown may flourish in their respective Dioceses, parishes, and seminaries.
For Father John, the ACTS XXIX team, and all those attending the Grand Getaway on Mackinac Island, that God's people would be inspired to be mobilized for the mission God has entrusted to them.
For the ACTS XXIX family, that their break from ministry in the first part of July will be a source of refreshment for them and their families.
For the ACTS XXIX Board of Directors, Episcopal Advisory Council, benefactors and prayer partners. May the Lord richly bless them for their leadership and support.
For God’s protection upon the ACTX XXIX team.