“A THORN IN THE FLESH WAS GIVEN TO ME” (2 Corinthians 12:7)

"Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and
and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance.
ALL SUCH BOASTING IS EVIL" (James 4:15-16).

"Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in
his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will
pass away" (James 1:9-10).

Saint Luke the Evangelist contrasts the virtue of humility with the VICE OF SELF-EXALTATION. "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." True faith depends completely on God and seeks ways to do good works. But to plan as if we know exactly what will happen is arrogance. If we concentrate on the divine message of the Scripture, we will notice the reverse of the order of the world. "The lowly," those who have the least here on earth, will have the most in the Kingdom of Heaven. On the other hand the rich may be tempted to be greedy and arrogant and may thereby lose true wealth. Unlike the leaders, who publicly proclaimed their own greatness and superior religious experiences, the holy Apostle Paul witnesses his "thorn in the flesh", as "given to" him specifically so he that he might not "be exalted." There are many speculations on what the "thorn" was with which he was afflicted and tormented.

"Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefor I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG" (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Saint John Chrysostom states: "There are some who have said that Paul is referring to a pain in the head caused by the devil, but God forbid! The body of Paul could never have been given over to the devil, especially when we remember that the devil submitted to Paul when he was bidden to. In Hebrew, any adversary can be called Satan. What Paul means is that God would not allow the preaching of the gospel to go forward, so that his proud thoughts might be checked. Instead, Paul was attacked by adversaries like Alexander, the coppersmith, the party of Hymenaeus and Philetus and all the opponents of the Logos/Word. These were the messengers of Satan" (Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians 26:2).

Saint Paul had to face countless insults, multiple attacks, riots, torments, beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, and persecutions by both Jews and Gentiles. No one is able to avoid having adversaries or enemies in life. Enemies that may hate you, are envious of you, and make it their goal to either embarrass you or to want your demise. Mean-spirited people that oppose your opinion on things and want to silence you and your message. In Saint Paul’s case they were determined to stop his preaching of the Christian Gospel. People react differently when under this severe and deliberate assault on their person. Therefore, under these cruel personal trials, how does a Christian find the serenity to pray? Because it is hard and painful and unjust do we entreat God to intervene and free us from this evil or do we accept it? There is a petition, however, in the Divine Liturgy that we actually supplicate God: "For our deliverance from all afflictions, wrath, danger, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord."

Saint Paul begged God that the flesh’s thorn be removed from him, but his appeal was not answered by the Lord. Saint Paul was denied the fulfillment of his prayer for his glory. "My grace is sufficient for you for power is made perfect in weakness." We, therefore, are taught by his experience, that when some infirmity and painful experience assaults us, then is our power made perfect, the our faith is crowned. We say that are faith is being tested by God. This is indeed the difference between us Christians and others who do not believe in God, that they complain and murmur in difficult times, while adversity does not turn us from the truth of virtue and faith but proves us in suffering. Who could love us more than the Almighty God does? Yet He continually teaches us lovingly as well as frightens us for our own good. He often allows bitter medicines to be taken by us knowing it is for our healing, spiritual perfection, and general-wellbeing.

Saint John Chrysostom exhorts us: "Accordingly, whether we have our requests granted or not, LET US PERSIST IN ASKING AND RENDER THANKS NOT ONLY WHEN WE GAIN WHAT WE ASK BUT ALSO WHEN WE FAIL TO. Failure to gain , you see, when that is what God wants, is not worse than succeeding; we do not know what is to our advantage in this regard in the way he does understand. The result is, then, that succeeding or failing we ought to give thanks. Saint Paul’s love for God did not diminish at all even though his appeal was not fulfilled. Instead, Saint Paul, was grateful and elated for God’s Fatherly compassion and protection for him. Saint John Chrysostom advises: "So we ought to yield to the Creator of our nature, and with joy and great relish ACCEPT THOSE THINGS THAT HE HAS DECIDED ON AND HAVE AN EYE NOT TO THE APPEARANCE OF EVENTS BUT TO THE DECISIONS OF THE LORD. After all, He Who knows better than we what is for our benefit also knows what steps must be taken for our salvation."

We, also, learn from this that even a wrong prayer will receive an answer, even if it does not get what it wants. In a way, God’s silence to our request, may be interpreted as a positive answer from Him. We must learn to trust Him implicitly and completely. If anyone dares to even allow the smallest doubt of Lord Christ’s unconditional love for us, he or she need only to gaze at a Crucifix. In the gospel of Saint Matthew 23:8-12, Jesus says, "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." Showing them, the Disciples, what is to be gained by humility, He says that he ho is great among you should be your servant and the least. For he who exalts himself, PRESUMING TO BE SOMTHING, SHALL BE HUMBLED AND ABANDONED BY GOD."

Self-exaltation indicates a person that has fallen into the sin of pride and conceit. A person filled with pride attributes all his successes in life as his/her accomplishments and does not acknowledge God’s grace, guidance, and assistance. He or she glorifies himself/herself and gives NO thanksgiving to the Creator and our Great Benefactor. The person, in his/her pride and exaltation, is so absorbed and spiritually blinded that he or she, has lost all sense of gratitude to the Master and God that made it happen. Saint John Chrysostom stated always, "Glory be to God for all things!" No one should be double-minded. A double-minded person is he who desires all worldly wealth, pleasure and power but also to reign with God in heaven. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem says, "If ever we find ourselves afflicted by illness, grief or trouble, let us not blame God…each of us is scourged with the ropes of our own sins."

As the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ we should always submit to His will. Our Most-Loving God and Father has given us the gift of reason and discern right from wrong. We know that although we have an intellectual ability, we lack wisdom. The holy Apostle James exhorts us: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5). Why is wisdom important? Wisdom is the practical and spiritual knowledge required for godly living to those of us who "ask of God," in sincere prayer. And prayer as petition is effective only when it is done "in true faith, with no doubting." Let us, therefore, seek God’s wisdom and guidance. and always with profound humility.

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George