Whenever I Am Weak, I Am Strong
One of the downsides of getting old is that we become more aware of our limitations, both physical and mental. Look at the way Americans have reacted to President Biden’s poor performance in a recent debate with Donald Trump. Some want him to step aside for a younger candidate.
We all have to face our growing limitations as we get older. This often means that we have to rely more on others for help. We begin to lose our independence. We have to admit we are far from perfect. I thought of this when reading St Paul’s second letter to the people of Corinth. He puts these words into the mouth of Jesus: My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.
Paul concludes: So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell within me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. We want to appear — in our own eyes and in other people’s — strong, capable and dependable. Many of us are unhappy about needing others.
The singer/songwriter Paul Simon expresses this well, in his song ‘I Am a Rock’:
I have my books
And my poetry to protect me.
I am shielded in my armour.
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb,
I touch no-one and no one touches me,
I am a rock, I am an island.
What would be good for us is to embrace and exercise the virtue of humility. To do this we must first ask for the grace to see ourselves as God sees us. God knows all our faults and weaknesses, and he gazes on us with great love.
In prayer, express gratitude for everything you have. We need to know what it means to accept our daily crosses with patience. Like St Paul, we unite our suffering with the Cross of Jesus. In prayer, God will help us to understand the meaning and the role of the suffering and difficulties that we have. Growing in humility is realising that we are not the centre of the universe. Let us put others first. Each person is infinitely loved by God and is thus deserving of our love.
Prayer for Humility
Let me have too deep a sense of humour to be proud.
Let me know my absurdity before I act absurdly.
Let me realise that when I am humble I am most human, most truthful and most worthy of your serious consideration. [Daniel A Lord SJ]
