Why Do I Have to Carry This?

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.

Have you ever been in a queue in the grocery store in right behind the mother with the child who is in the grips of the "terrible threes" who wants every candy bar and every type of chewing gum that is on display and he is not taking no for an answer?  The mother instead of being a mother tries to be a friend to her brat child and explains to him how all of that candy and gum will ruin his dinner.  The child, swayed by her elegant speech responds in the whiney squeaky voice that only a brat can emulate, "I want it."  There then comes screaming and crying as you have never heard before.  The mother relents and the kid gets a snickers bar and for the moment he is satisfied, but just for the moment.  

Sometimes, God is stuck with us as we pray for this and pray for that and we keep whining that he has more than I have and it just isn't fair.  God is a good Father and knows just how to handle us.  He gives us something to make us humble, to make us see ourselves as the weak creatures that we truly are. Nothing can kill the soul quicker than pride.  God knows this and we can see as in the case of Paul has given him a burden to make him a bit more humble so that he does not full of himself and lose sight of the mission he has been given.  The scholars are not sure what this burden was.  Some say it was a speech impediment and others say that it was some sort of disfigurement.  No matter what it was, it kept Paul on track and he was able to keep his eye on the prize. 

This is why sometimes we acquire a burden that we request over and over from God that it be lifted and we point out how wonderful our life would be if we didn't have this to deal with and yet day after day and year after year the burden does not go away, it remains as a stark reminder of our weakness and dependence on God. So, we might have to struggle a bit but when we succeed in spite of difficulties we can see how it was God's strength we were using and not our own and we can be grateful to the One who made us for showing us such mercy and love. 

Please remember the Poor Souls in Purgatory this week in your prayers.