Sixth Sunday after Trinity

2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13

Quasimodo, a person popularised in a film and The Hunchback of Notre Dame also made popular, both share a deformity which sets them apart from society. In some ways they have been given a roguish character as we observe them going from one scenario to another. Yet all through the ages people have cropped up with disfigurement or deformity setting them to one side of society or placing them in a position with instant recognition.

In the epistle reading from one of Paul’s letters to the Church in Corinth we are given a picture of Paul. He is ministering and having to manage a ‘weakness’ as he does so. The nature of his disability is not made clear by him although he does describe it as a ‘thorn in the flesh’. We can imagine what it must be like to have an actual thorn constantly digging in day after day. It would serve as a constant reminder of some accident or misfortune of birth. However, Paul looks upon his deformity in a positive way.

Various possible states have been proposed as to the nature of his ‘thorn’, from epilepsy to any number of illnesses. In tackling whichever is his complaint he uses it in a positive way, to stop him from being too excited in his ministry. Instead, he claims to be content with his weakness, a weakness which he does not allow it to make him step back from his ministry, his proclaiming of his love of Christ.

Paul, like many quite possibly, prayed to God to take his disability away. God always answers prayers but not always in the way that we would expect. In Paul’s case God did not remove his disability but instead gave him the power and the strength to bear it. This is often the way that God works. We are not spared that which is troubling us but he gives us the power to conquer them.

It has been said before how one can gain strength from another. In the church congregation this is very true. It is possible to attend a church service feeling quite low and despondent. The last thing that you wish to do is to get involved, but here you are in church. Maybe it was habit that brought you here. Looking around you smiling faces can be seen. Ok, there may be the odd grumpy one, but they are always around. By being there you gain a spiritual strength so that by the end of the service you will be found in a lighter mood.

In a similar way those around a disabled person can gain strength to handle their own problems by drawing upon the way that the disabled person handles theirs. Paul managed his own problems in the power of Christ. No matter what insults, persecutions, hardships, and so on, he continued and gained strength. So too can we, gaining strength through hardship and difficulties. Look again at Quasimodo and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, house names almost and uttered with not a little affection.

Collect for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity

Merciful God,

you have prepared for those who love you

such good things as pass our understanding:

pour into our hearts such love toward you

that we, loving you in all things and above all things,

may obtain your promises,

which exceed all that we can desire;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.