The Upside of Weakness

Daily Office Devotional, Wednesday, June 2, 2021

The Week of Trinity Sunday

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrase for reflection in today’s reading:

29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Martyrs of Lyon. (See below.)

Daily Office Lectionary readings

AM Psalm 72; PM Psalm 119:73-96

Deuteronomy 31:30-32:14; 2 Corinthians 11:21b-33; Luke 19:11-27

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Office Epistle, 2 Corinthians 11:12-33

12And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about. 13For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.

16 I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. 17What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord’s authority, but as a fool; 18since many boast according to human standards, I will also boast. 19For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves! 20For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face. 21To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. 24Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; 27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. 28And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant? 30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie. 32In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

David's Reflections

Today's reading includes a portion of yesterday's text, which helps to contextualize what Paul says in the latter portion of chapter 11.

What do we share in common with others? What connects us to others in the Christian community? We might answer with responses like shared experience of God, common beliefs, spiritual gifts, similar vision, and so forth. But, we share something even more basic, something that can connect us when gifts, virtues or beliefs might actually serve to separate us.

I would answer with Paul in today's reading that we share a sense of weakness and vulnerability; we also share the woundedness that comes as a result of our evil and of our inability to spare ourselves pain and loss. Paul's opponents, in denial about this, have been boasting about their credentials and their sense of triumph about their spiritual experiences and criticizing Paul for his obvious frailties.

Paul's response in this text is rather queer indeed. He lists his afflictions and wounds and admits to his anxieties. They obviously regarded his travails as evidence that he was not vitally united with the risen Christ or else he would have been delivered, just as Christ was risen. Paul responds in this sublime passage that his weakness, wounds, and vulnerability actually demonstrate his union with the crucified Jesus.

The final episode, his being lowered over the wall in a basket sums up the point. Was there a similar moment in the life of Jesus? Yes, the moment of his crucifixion, which Paul refers to in the next chapter with the words, "He was crucified in weakness." At that moment of helplessness in the basket, Paul shared Jesus' rejection and his powerlessness on the cross. Jesus was just as present with Paul in that basket as he was in moments of triumph and ecstasy.

I take courage in this passage. My wounds, my vulnerability, my moments of powerlessness unite me with the crucified Jesus. He shares those moments with me. And, they connect me with others who experience sleepless nights, emotional scars, and circumstances that grip them and render them powerless. With Paul I can say, "I have been crucified with Christ." Weakness manifests Christ’s life in mine, the Christ who was crucified in weakness but lives by God’s power (2 Cor. 13:4).

Rudolf Bultmann, German New Testament scholar, captured the essence of this text when he wrote, "For sufferings do not bear their meaning within themselves. They are simply the envelope of the power of God which comes to fulfillment in weakness (2 C. 12:9), of the life of Jesus which is manifest in them (2 C. 4:10 f.)." *

* Rudolf Bultmann, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Ed. Gerhard Kittel. Trans. & editor, Geoffrey W. Bromiley. Vol III. Q-K (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965), p. 650

Collect of the Day, Trinity Sunday

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the martyrs of Lyon (died 177 CE).

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Lyons.htm

Collect of the Feast of the Martyrs of Lyon

Almighty God, who gave such courage and endurance to Blandina and her companions that by their deaths many hearts were turned to you; Grant that we, in accordance with their example, may also gladly endure all that is required of us as we witness to you in our own day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

For stewardship of creation

O merciful Creator, your hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your good gifts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 259)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)