July 17, 2024

By Father William Muench
NCC columnist

Recently, the Sunday Scriptures brought together a reading from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians and a Gospel reading from St. Mark’s Chapter 6. You will probably remember reading from St. Paul; he writes about “a thorn in the flesh.” The Gospel reading is a story about the time Jesus returned to his hometown Nazareth after being away for a time. He now returns a rabbi and a miracle worker. The town’s people are surprised and find it impossible to accept the changes in him.

First, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: Paul had spent some time in the city of Corinth. The people know him; they have listened to his teachings. Now in his letter, he writes rather honestly about a personal weakness. He writes in all humility. Now, we can realize that this letter is also to us all these years later. St. Paul writes to admit to all of us that he is in the same place as we are. We learn that his challenges are the same as ours. He uses an unique expression – he says that he has experienced a “thorn in the flesh.”

Physically, a thorn in the flesh can be very painful and most annoying. However, this expression can also mean that he is suffering from an illness, a worry, a burden, an addiction, a compulsion. He tells us that he reacts much as we would – he says that he begged the Lord three times to free him. However, he realizes that God wanted him to know, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God is ready to give us the power to act even in the most difficult of situations. Paul writes, “God’s power is made perfect even in my weakness.

When we are open and trusting, God gives us the power and the faith to work through seemingly impossible situations. I have written before of being with someone – some family – as they were living through what seemed to me to be an impossible time. I remember being told by them, “Father, I would not have made it through this if I did not have my faith.” St. Paul says, “I boast in my weaknesses. The power of Christ dwells in me. When I am weak, then I am strong.”

Here I also think of many parents who are challenged – they know they must say something to one of their children. It was a time that demanded a serious talk with a difficult child. I believe that when they put their trust and confidence in the Lord, they will be given the right words.

Now, that Gospel: Jesus learns something about our humanity. The story is that he has returned after his travels through Galilee back to his hometown of Nazareth. He is now a rabbi; he is now a miracle worker. Yet the people in his hometown put no faith in him. They remember the other person; they do not recognize him now. “Who does he think he is,” they ask.

I must admit that as a young priest visiting my hometown, the people in my neighborhood, my high school friends, we not impressed at all with my shiny new Roman collar even though I could now celebrate the Holy Mass. I must admit I was annoyed, just as Jesus was.

I am certain it took experiences like this for Jesus to really get to know us – the People of God. However, we can be very certain that God truly knows us. No one can say, “God, you do not know what I am going through.” Jesus knows everything about us. Jesus experienced it all in his human experience, even to death. Jesus knows we need so much help, and he is willing to walk with us. Our prayer can truly be, “Jesus you do know what I am going through.”