..................Proud of his Weanesses.................
We must not forget although Paul endure heavy burdens, survive long arduous journeys, and undergo all kinds of adversities, he suffered from poor health.
It is not clear if he suffered from a particular sickness.
He reminds the Galatians that he once preached to them when he was disfigured by a sickness that made his appearance repulsive.
Perhaps his frailty increased the sense of disproportion between his weakness and the immense mission entrusted to him.
I was, however in weakness and apparent lack of means that the power of the Lord stood out with overwhelming clarity.
It was the fire that nurtured Paul's unmistakeable irony: that human weakness was his greatest reason to boast, and the clearest sign that it was truly Christ who was working in him.
To stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh (Second letter to the Corinthians 12:7)
And who could be qualified for work like this?(Second letter to the Corinthians 2:16)
He said to me "My grace is enough for you : my power is at its best in weakness."
So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me{...} for it is when I am weak that I am strong(Second letter to the Corinthians 12:9-10).
The extraordinary apostolic results achieved by Paul cannot be attributed to brilliant rhetoric or to sophisticated apologetic and missionary strategies.
The success of his apostolate was above all a result of personal involvement in the proclaimation of the Gospel with total dedication to Christ.(Benedict XVI).
"We hold this treasure in eartenware jars"
....................Glory and Gratitude..................
Paul spoke as the first among sinners, the last of the apostles, the lowest among men.
He seemed to want to claim the privilege of lowliness and unworthiness.
At the centre of this self- consciousness on Paul's part grew a previously unknown, if not impossible sentiment, namely, admiration for himself, or rather, admiration for what Christ was working in him.
Even the things that Paul had left behind him, those he would have preferred to forget, became central in his relationship with Christ.
All the pain, all the sorrow for his past life, all his limitations, were overpowered by a new love.
They were not cancelled or forgotten but transformed by the mercy of him who can do everything.
Paul's lowliness, even his physical limitations, became a reason for him to boast.
He was proud to be so insignificant, so as to be witness of Him who is all.
The betrayals, the failures, the sickness- all reminded Paul, instant by instant, that his life not belong to him self, but to Him who created him and wanted to save him.
Paul's glory was born out of the same source as his humility. His boasting was gratitude.
I am the least of the apostles, in fact since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle(First letter to the Corinthians 15:9)
As for me, the only thing I can boast about it the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, throught him the world is crucified to me, and I to the world(Galatians 6:14)
If anyone wants to boast, let him to boast the Lord (Second letter to the Corinthians 10:17)
.................Nothing Could Dominate Him...............
When Christ appeared to him Paul became aware that history is not in the hands of men, but in those of Christ dead and risen.
He is the Lord, and everything depends on Him.
This is the source of boundless freedom for whoever is aware of it.
Paul writes that time is growing short, because he knows that human history is like ship reaching its final destination, with its sails furled, and that everything is returning to the Lord.
Everything is seen in the light of eternity of destiny, of Good.
