2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Proper 9 (14) - Year B
Is Paul speaking in the third person about his own mystical experience, as some have suggested? How does that play out in then not boasting about himself. My own mystical experiences are very much a part of myself, for better and for worse.
To appeal to such a mysterious experience as a source of authority with no other supporting evidence is a weak place to place one's appeal for power in leading others. What is seen in us and heard from us is better.
This raises the question of what we are using for our base of operations. Is it our belief or our living with folks? I will be glad when our current reliance upon propositions fades again and we can judge character on the basis of our living in the midst of one another. This is the kind of practical theology that appeals to me. As Eliza Doolittle exclaims,
Words, Words, Words!
I'm so sick of words!
I get words all day through'
First from him, now from you!
Is that all you blighters can do?
Don't talk of stars burning above
If you are in love show me!
Sing me no song! Read me no rhyme!
Don't waste my time , show me
Don't talk of June! Don't talk of Fall!
Don't talk at all! Show me!
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/july2003.html
The mythology is that Paul is beyond us. He claims to be all things for all people so some might be saved (1 Corinthians 9:22). That's a huge investment for a limited return.
Here there may be a suggestion that, even for Paul, not everything is available to him as a means. The old "thorn in the flesh" may be a characterological or behavioral trait that gets in the way of Paul's claim [above]. Is it his split between how he is when present and how he is different when communicating from afar (10:1, 10)?
Whatever, I heard a conversation about intrinsic and extrinsic motivations the other day. This confession seems to be pushing in the direction of the intrinsic. If Paul has to deal with his limitations, he will. In fact it is exactly this area of weakness that most clearly shows who he is. The same may well be true for you, I'm pretty sure it is for me.
Let's not glory in our weaknesses in such a way that they are excused and we escape responsibility for them, but let them reveal our deep heart's desire.
This is an important word to hear on this 4th of July. Our current administration, as most do, has been focusing on our country's strengths and avoiding our weaknesses. This is not healthy long-term behavior.
There were no easy answers for Paul and none for us, either individually or commonly. So let's deal honestly with our strengths and weaknesses.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/july2003.html
To keep us from being too inflated or elated we are given a thorn - hometown. Here people changed our diapers. Here people saw the bad haircut we gave ourself. Here errors in judgment as we moved through the stages of life are laughed about every holiday. Here people join in expecting to honor a conquering hero to return home.
Out of his own experience at Nazareth, Jesus sends out the twelve and ourselves. They and we find places as humbling as a hometown and new places that become our hometown.
Whether needing refuge and defense or providing such (opportunity for repentance), we stretch our walk with G*D to include folks for whom we are a thorn and folks who are a thorn for ourselves. Mutuality is not just support, but also correction.
- - -
in season or out
learning is in order
learning to live
without surprises
we will receive
hometown adulation
along with
hometown rejection
both are unrealistic
no surprise here
caught up to seventh heaven
or caught on a thorn
in season or out
teaching is in order
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
For Paul who has boasted and still is tempted to do so there is a gift of a “thorn in the flesh”. There are many approaches to what such a “thorn” might be. I recommend a recent book by R.W. Holmen, A Wretched Man - A Novel of Paul the Apostle which incorporates recent scholarship into a novel genre.
In light of the previous scriptures for the day we might posit a thorn as the gift of not-so-loyal oppositionists in the body of the congregations Paul catalyzed. We can’t get too literal here and think that a thorn is a thorn is a thorn. Nazareth was a thorn in the side of Jesus and it led to new evangelistic methodologies - disciples sent out two by two and acting before they graduated.
Jerusalem was held by the Jebusites, thorns in David’s military career. Jerusalem becomes Temple Central.
The non-Israelite kings are imaged as gathered together and a thorn in Israel’s safety and security. G*D is then imaged as a “world-King”, in Peterson’s phrasing.
Thorns sharpen our attention and lead to new directions. If only fleshly pain, the new direction would be backward. In these cases, the thorn becomes something you head into to find a blessing hidden up until now. Thorns are not unlike cracks in cosmic eggs that allow a new stage of growth.
Consider that Paul is talking about a temptation to comfort and control that becomes particularly evident when dealing with late adapters to a new way to paradise. They don’t get it as quickly as Paul can hint at and theorize about a mystery he has heard in a once and future paradise. Paul wants to be a partner with folks who only are looking for a parent. This is a thorny place to be.
Now, who is that thorn in your side? Know that they are not going to leave. Can you be content to simply work on your integrity and telling as much truth as you can? Are you willing to wrestle with/meditate on suffering? Such as these will not let you to be in control, but they will strengthen you to be creative in the face of misunderstanding and rejection.
Honor the thorn even as you rejoice in the flower.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/07/2-corinthians-122-10.html