This was a service which I led myself and there were two
themes but the one I wish to focus on in my reflection is the issue of pride
and our need for status and recognition. The reading came from Corinthians and
face the account of Paul speaking about his vision.
Paul isn't known for his meekness and as a Pharisee he proudly
persecuted the people who followed the teachings of Jesus.
He was so sure that he was doing the work of God in ridding
the place of these people who were polluting the Jewish people.
God brought him undone and through a vision that was at the
same time a revelation, God blasted Paul with the truth. I think we are all
familiar with the account.
Paul could have acted with great pride and started telling people of his exalted status
in God’s kingdom in being given such a vision but he says that he was given a
thorn in the flesh to remind him of his lowly status, so he isn't going to
boast about being given such an experience but that he will boast in the exceptional
character of the revelation.
I should say at this point that I don't believe that
God ever does bad things to any of creation. However, there are consequences, so, for
example, if Paul fell down and injured himself around the time of having that
vision, I can see how he would attribute that to God’s action. There are many
possibilities.
It would appear that this “thorn” is quite
debilitating to the point that Paul asked God to take it from him no less than three
times. But Paul tells us that instead of doing that God let him know that His
grace was sufficient to carry Paul through any suffering caused by the
affliction and still do God's work effectively.
We really want people around us to see us in our successes
but the times that I have thought the most highly of people is when I have
witnessed them struggling with some difficulty and clearly calling on God’s
grace to get them through.
We visited one of our very elderly friends and despite
having to lean on every piece of furniture on her way around her house, she
insisted on providing afternoon tea.
The cups clattered onto the saucers from her unsteady hands
and the water didn't quite all make it into the cups but she did it all with a
smile you couldn't beat, all the while saying how pleased she was that we were
there.
Her wounds were always getting better. She didn't fall over,
just lost her balance for a bit. And as far a she was concerned everyone did
everything so well…it was all so lovely!
My 94 year old brother-in-law is another one…he is
always doing what he can for the old people. Until quite recently he would cook
rice puddings and deliver them to “the old people” who were probably younger
than he is.
These are angels walking the earth.
What would the world be like if we could all be like them!
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