Thorns and Faith

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the thorns in our life that paradoxically provide opportunities to choose Jesus Way.

Thorns for the Faithful

In the Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul presents visions and revelations of the Lord.

* [12:1–4] In the body or out of the body: he seemed no longer confined to bodily conditions, but he does not claim to understand the mechanics of the experience. Caught up: i.e., in ecstasy. The third heaven…Paradise: ancient cosmologies depicted a multitiered universe. Jewish intertestamental literature contains much speculation about the number of heavens. Seven is the number usually mentioned, but the Testament of Levi (2:7–10; 3:1–4) speaks of three; God himself dwelt in the third of these. Without giving us any clear picture of the cosmos, Paul indicates a mental journey to a nonearthly space, set apart by God, in which secrets were revealed to him. Ineffable things: i.e., privileged knowledge, which it was not possible or permitted to divulge.

* [12:5–7] This person: the indirect way of referring to himself has the effect of emphasizing the distance between that experience and his everyday life, just as the indirect someone in Christ (2 Cor 12:2) and all the passive verbs emphasize his passivity and receptivity in the experience. The revelations were not a personal achievement, nor were they meant to draw attention to any quality of his own.

* [12:7] That I might not become too elated: God assures that there is a negative component to his experience, so that he cannot lose proper perspective; cf. 2 Cor 1:9; 4:7–11. A thorn in the flesh: variously interpreted as a sickness or physical disability, a temptation, or a handicap connected with his apostolic activity. But since Hebrew “thorn in the flesh,” like English “thorn in my side,” refers to persons (cf. Nm 33:55; Ez 28:24), Paul may be referring to some especially persistent and obnoxious opponent. The language of 2 Cor 12:7–8 permits this interpretation. If this is correct, the frequent appearance of singular pronouns in depicting the opposition may not be merely a stylistic variation; the singular may be provoked and accompanied by the image of one individual in whom criticism of Paul’s preaching, way of life, and apostolic consciousness is concentrated, and who embodies all the qualities Paul attributes to the group. An angel of Satan: a personal messenger from Satan; cf. the satanic language already applied to the opponents in 2 Cor 11:3, 13–15, 20.

* [12:8] Three times: his prayer was insistent, like that of Jesus in Gethsemane, a sign of how intolerable he felt the thorn to be.

* [12:9] But he said to me: Paul’s petition is denied; release and healing are withheld for a higher purpose. The Greek perfect tense indicates that Jesus’ earlier response still holds at the time of writing. My grace is sufficient for you: this is not a statement about the sufficiency of grace in general. Jesus speaks directly to Paul’s situation. Is made perfect: i.e., is given most fully and manifests itself fully.

* [12:9b–10a] Paul draws the conclusion from the autobiographical anecdote and integrates it into the subject of this part of the boast. Weaknesses: the apostolic hardships he must endure, including active personal hostility, as specified in a final catalogue (2 Cor 12:10a). That the power of Christ may dwell with me: Paul pinpoints the ground for the paradoxical strategy he has adopted in his self-defense.

* [12:10] When I am weak, then I am strong: Paul recognizes a twofold pattern in the resolution of the weakness-power (and death-life) dialectic, each of which looks to Jesus as the model and is experienced in him. The first is personal, involving a reversal in oneself (Jesus, 2 Cor 13:4a; Paul, 2 Cor 1:9–10; 4:10–11; 6:9). The second is apostolic, involving an effect on others (Jesus, 2 Cor 5:14–15; Paul, 2 Cor 1:6; 4:12; 13:9). The specific kind of “effectiveness in ministry” that Paul promises to demonstrate on his arrival (2 Cor 13:4b; cf. 2 Cor 10:1–11) involves elements of both; this, too, will be modeled on Jesus’ experience and a participation in that experience (2 Cor 9; 13:3b). (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 34 declares God will make them powerful

* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Matthew presents our Dependence on God.

* [6:19–34] The remaining material of this chapter is taken almost entirely from Q. It deals principally with worldly possessions, and the controlling thought is summed up in Mt 6:24: the disciple can serve only one master and must choose between God and wealth (mammon). See further the note on Lk 16:9.

* [6:22–23] In this context the parable probably points to the need for the disciple to be enlightened by Jesus’ teaching on the transitory nature of earthly riches.

* [6:24] Mammon: an Aramaic word meaning wealth or property.

* [6:25–34] Jesus does not deny the reality of human needs (Mt 6:32), but forbids making them the object of anxious care and, in effect, becoming their slave.

* [6:27] Life-span: the Greek word can also mean “stature.” If it is taken in that sense, the word here translated moment (literally, “cubit”) must be translated literally as a unit not of time but of spatial measure. The cubit is about eighteen inches.

* [6:30] Of little faith: except for the parallel in Lk 12:28, the word translated of little faith is found in the New Testament only in Matthew. It is used by him of those who are disciples of Jesus but whose faith in him is not as deep as it should be (see Mt 8:26; 14:31; 16:8 and the cognate noun in Mt 17:20). (Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. Elvin Car­doso, SJ comments that we are invit­ed to let go of the illu­sion of con­trol. Jesus reminds us of the Father’s care for the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. Our fears about tomor­row only dis­tract us from trust­ing in God today.

Whether it’s a thorn we can­not remove, or an anx­ious heart about the future, both read­ings call us to a rad­i­cal trust in God’s grace. They remind us that we are not self-suf­fi­cient and we don’t need to be. The world tells us to be strong, inde­pen­dent, and always in con­trol. But the Gospel calls us to some­thing more pro­found: to depend on God, who alone is strong when we are weak.

As you take a moment to pause, con­sid­er this: Do you have a “thorn” in your life—perhaps a tri­al, fear, or bur­den that weighs on you? Is there a con­cern about the future that dis­turbs your peace and keeps you awake at night? Lis­ten to the reas­sur­ing mes­sage from God today: “My grace is suf­fi­cient.” While He does not guar­an­tee a life free of strug­gles, He assures us that He will be enough for us in every circumstance. (Cardoso, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “The value of life,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.

"Note the acceleration of images: just when the lilies are decked out, he no longer calls them lilies but 'grass of the field' (Matthew 6:30 ). He then points further to their vulnerable condition by saying 'which are here today.' Then he does not merely say 'and not tomorrow' but rather more callously 'cast into the oven.' These creatures are not merely 'clothed but 'so clothed' in this way as to be later brought to nothing. Do you see how Jesus everywhere abounds in amplifications and intensifications? And he does so in order to press his points home. So then he adds, 'Will he not much more clothe you?' The force of the emphasis is on 'you' to indicate covertly how great is the value set upon your personal existence and the concern God shows for you in particular. It is as though he were saying, 'You, to whom he gave a soul, for whom he fashioned a body, for whose sake he made everything in creation, for whose sake he sent prophets, and gave the law, and wrought those innumerable good works, and for whose sake he gave up his only begotten Son.'" (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 22.1) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 comments that we might experience weakness in physical limitation, emotional turmoil, or the effects of persistent sin. These weaknesses can discourage us and pull us away from the Lord. But the same power that was perfected in St. Paul, the same power that strengthened Joni Eareckson Tada, is at work in us. As we learn to surrender our weakness to him, he will show us how his power can shine through us.

So let’s surrender one area of weakness to the Lord today:

Jesus, I belong to you. I confess that I am struggling with this weakness. So I place myself in your hands. I trust in your timing and your plan. I believe that your grace is sufficient to strengthen me.

“Lord Jesus, may your power be made perfect in my weakness!” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that in  2 Corinthians Paul is defending his ministry after being accused as an inferior apostle. He shares a mystical experience, likely referring to himself. As other missionaries he also has encountered Presence as a “thorn  in the flesh” insisting that grace is enough for you. Our weakness builds our reliance on God. See weakness is driving us closer to God. The Gospel asserts that we cannot serve two masters, God and mammon.  Friar Jude reminds us to seek spiritual treasure not an earthly treasure. Should we save for needs? Yes, but those funds cannot become the centre of our concerns. If they build, share with those who have less.

Barbara Holmes introduces Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, host of the CAC podcast Love Period, who reminds us to choose joy amid life’s difficulties. Though we are outraged by injustice, we don’t get there with just our outrage. We need to get there with our joy, which—according to my friend Father Richard Rohr—is both a decision and a surrender.

Joy is an essential need for the thriving of the human spirit. Without it, we are diminished and too often left with the festering of our wounds, resentments, and fears. Joy is that feeling of well-being, pleasure, and happiness that accompanies us as we move through life. It alters the way we see the world, its people, and ourselves. Joy tints our perspective with optimism and the confidence that we will go through the hard things, and though we might be bruised or battered, we’ll come out on the other side. Joy is the wellspring of resistance, the water of life. Now, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and smile from the inside out. There, there it is. Can you feel it? That’s joy! (Holmes, n.d.)

We seek the enlightenment of the Spirit as we encounter the contradictions that society often offers to our experience in faith that full life is rooted in dependance on God.

References

Cardoso, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection June 21, 2025. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-21-2025 

Holmes, B. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/joy-and-resilience-weekly-summary/ 

Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6 

Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/21/1310455/ 

Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Why Are You Anxious - Seek First His Kingdom. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun21 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 21, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/12?1 

Generosity and Faithfulness

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to express gratitude for gifts we have received from the generosity of the Spirit and the people on our journey.

Gratitude for Gifts

The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians is an acknowledgement of the Philippians’ Gift.

* [4:10–20] Paul, more directly than anywhere else in the letter (cf. Phil 1:3–5), here thanks the Philippians for their gift of money sent through Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25). Paul’s own policy was to be self-sufficient as a missionary, supporting himself by his own labor (1 Thes 2:5–9; 1 Cor 9:15–18; cf. Acts 18:2–3). In spite of this reliance on self and on God to provide (Phil 4:11–13) Paul accepted gifts from the Philippians not only once but more than once (Phil 4:16) when he was in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1–9), as he does now, in prison (my distress, Phil 4:14). While commercial terms appear in the passage, like an account of giving and receiving (Phil 4:15) and received full payment (Phil 4:18), Paul is most concerned about the spiritual growth of the Philippians (10, 17, 19); he emphasizes that God will care for their needs, through Christ. (Philippians, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)

Psalm 112 celebrates the blessings of the righteous.

* [Psalm 112] An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Ps 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Ps 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Ps 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Ps 112:10). The logic resembles Ps 1; 111. (Psalms, PSALM 112, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus applies the Parable of the Dishonest Steward.

 

* [16:9] Dishonest wealth: literally, “mammon of iniquity.” Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning “that in which one trusts.” The characterization of this wealth as dishonest expresses a tendency of wealth to lead one to dishonesty. Eternal dwellings: or, “eternal tents,” i.e., heaven.

* [16:10–12] The second conclusion recommends constant fidelity to those in positions of responsibility.

* [16:13] The third conclusion is a general statement about the incompatibility of serving God and being a slave to riches. To be dependent upon wealth is opposed to the teachings of Jesus who counseled complete dependence on the Father as one of the characteristics of the Christian disciple (Lk 12:22–39). God and mammon: see note on Lk 16:9. Mammon is used here as if it were itself a god. (Luke, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)

Cindy Costanzo decided to write about gratitude and so this reflection has this focus.

 

 Gratitude is a beautiful expression of self-awareness and provides me with a beautiful start to the day. Gratitude for faith, love, family, work, health, and all that impacts my life. I have no doubt that when the start of my day begins with gratitude the lens through which I view my appointments, conversations, and tasks shifts and the day becomes a blessing, another opportunity, another chance …to do something meaningful, to reverence the work of others, to make someone smile, to let someone know how important they are to me.  The complex problems to solve become clearer and manageable, the sadness or disappointments change recognizing these are an important part of our human experience, a reminder for me to reflect on the why and learn from the meaning. (Costanzo, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus recommends the foresight, prudence, and ingenuity of the steward,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Mammon is the Hebrew word for 'riches,' just as in Punic the word for 'profit' is mammon. What are we to do? What did the Lord command? 'Make yourselves friends with the mammon of iniquity, so that they too, when you begin to fail, may receive you into eternal shelters.' It is easy, of course, to understand that we must give alms and a helping hand to the needy, because Christ receives it in them... We can understand that we have to give alms and that we must not really pick and choose to whom we give them, because we are unable to sift through people's hearts. When you give alms to all different types of people, then you will reach a few who deserve them. You are hospitable, and you keep your house ready for strangers. Let in the unworthy, in case the worthy might be excluded. You cannot be a judge and sifter of hearts." (excerpt from Sermon 359A.11-12) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Wrinkler sets the stage for the writing of Paul in gratitude for the financial help of the Philippians while he was under house arrest. Jesus advises that we use our earthly treasures to make friends and address the needs of the poor. Friar Jude reminds us to focus on sharing our gifts to help satisfy those in need.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, offers a practice of deepening love and healing.

Place the palm of one of your hands on your heart. Feel your heart beating, letting its rhythm bring you into the present moment and into the awareness of God’s blessing on your life, beat after beat after beat.

Bring to your conscious mind a loved one, an ancestor, a favorite place or animal, or anything that makes you smile with undeniable, spontaneous, unconditional love and joy.

Bring that particular beloved being or thing down from your mind and place it right under your palm, in your heart space. Relax your mind and let your heart relax at the same time, feeling the sensation of blood vessels, muscles, and chest cavity opening in warmth and love for that particular loved thing. Smile.

Now humbly place a challenging person, issue, or problem directly under your palm, within your wide-open heart space. This could be someone or something currently challenging you or an old hurt from a person gone from the living world. Silently continue to smile and hold this challenging thing in the warmth of your heart.

With closed eyes, look at the thing that causes you pain, visualizing the detail that bothers you the most, all the while smiling. Consider that there may be reasons why this thing brings hurt. Smile at the fragility, suffering, or misunderstanding that makes it this way.

Finally, give the person or problem to your heart and ask that your heart’s wisdom and love take over. Rest in the Love that loves both you and the other and wants to transform all into its loving image. (Rohr, 2022)

We are invited to contemplate the joy and connection we have known as a result of acting on Jesus' invitation to be generous in support of others.

References

Costanzo, C. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/110522.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/16?9 

Philippians, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/4?10 

Psalms, PSALM 112. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112?1 

Rohr, R. (2022, November 5). Keeping Faith with Our Ancestors: Weekly Summary — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/keeping-faith-with-our-ancestors-weekly-summary-2022-11-05/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Who Will Entrust to You the True Riches? Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 5, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=nov5