My Grace is Sufficient For You, For My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness: 2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9

2 Corinthians 11:19-12:9: "11:19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21 To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak foolishly—I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.

12:1 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me"

The Church at Corinth is over run with Judaizers. They want to force the Corinthians into observing all the old levitical laws and customs that the Jews grew up with. One may wonder why this is happening in a Greek Church, since Corinth is among the Gentile nations. However, when one considers that whenever St. Paul started to preach in a new city, the first thing he would do is find a Jewish synagogue and start preaching there first, when they would not listen then he would preach to the Gentiles. Now, there were often Jews who heard the message, and would be apart of starting this new church, but some of them, having been convinced by those who came out of the persecution of Jerusalem, and who believed that the old levitical customs should still be observed, started causing trouble in these new churches. Such is the case with the Church at Corinth.

This reading is the Epistle for Sexagesima, also sometimes called Exsurge, from the Introit. The theme for Sexagesima, is derived from the Gospel for the day, which is the parable of the Sower and the Seed from the Evangelist St. Luke's Gospel. St. Paul here in his Epistle to the Church at Corinth also talks about the importance of the Word of God. There is only one thing needful, and that is the Gospel. The Blessed Apostle, St. Paul, goes through a laundry list of things that have happened to him on account of this Gospel. It isn't a pretty picture.

There must have been those among the Judaizers who were boasting of their great deeds, and on account of this, some among the members of the Church at Corinth, were led astray. Therefore the Blessed Apostle St. Paul reveals what things he has suffered for the Gospel. It is on account of these things that he boasts. Now there are those, who if they had suffered much less than these things, would have left the Church. Indeed, in the Gospel reading, we see that very thing, as three out of four types of soil, reject the Gospel. That could mean that only 25 percent of the people who are preached to, actually hear and receive the glad tidings. However, this is not the point our dear Lord Jesus is making. Rather He is pointing His hearers to Himself, for He is both the seed and the soil, and the Sower, for it is on account of His fulfilling of the Law, or to say it another way, it is on account of His hearing His Father's Word and will, and doing it, that a harvest of more than a hundred fold was produced.

Part of that fruit was produced and harvested in Corinth. Here St. Paul also shows what things the seed of the Lord, those who are His offspring through the Word, must go through, the suffering they must endure for the Gospel. As was stated earlier, this might drive some off, but St. Paul shows that these things are what drives him to continue in the Gospel, for the Word that Christ has given us, is worth dying and fighting, and suffering for. For it is this Word that brings eternal life. It is the Gospel that has freed the Jews from the bondage of the levitical customs. No longer was it necessary to offer the sacrifices. No longer was it necessary to do the other customs. For Christ has fulfilled them once and for all. Therefore to go back to them, would be like going back to one's old sinful ways which they had given up.

Therefore, even though St. Paul has asked for the oppression to cease, it will not, for as our Lord says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Christ was strongest at His weakest, that is on the cross as He dies, for even though in the eyes of the world, it appeared as if He had failed, He rather had won forgiveness, life and salvation for all. In short, He won for us grace. Therefore, His grace is sufficient, for it is the Words of eternal life.

May God be with you!

Deacon Dulas

They Drank of That Spiritual Rock That Followed Them, And That Rock Was Christ: 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5

1 Corinthians 9:24-10:5 "9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

10:1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness."

Today the Church begins a new season. This season is known as Pre-Lent. It is sometimes referred to as "gesimatide." This refers to the names of these three Sunday that link Epiphany and Lent, which are called, Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima. These three Sundays are so named because of their relation to how far Easter is, that is, about seventy days, sixy days, and fifty days, respectively. This particular season is preparation for Lent. Historically this was the time when the people of God would prepare for Lent by getting rid of the things in their cupboards that would not be allowed in during the fast of Lent. These were either eaten, or donated to those who were in need. The penitential season of Lent needed a transitional stage, one that slowly directed ones eyes away from the joy and revelry of Christmas and Epiphany, which revealed our Lord and Savior Jesus as God who was born in the flesh of man for our salvation, towards the reflection upon our own sinfulness, which lead to our Lord's incarnation.

This preparatory season, or transitional season, has always been marked by three themes, one for each Sunday, invitation, instruction, and enlightenment. We see this first theme, invitation, in the Epistle appointed for Septuagesima, where the Blessed Apostle, St. Paul invites us to prepare for a race. It is clear that the Church which has framed the historic lectionary, had in mind when they appointed this Epistle for this day in the Church, the preparation for Lent, that is, the race that is being referred to is the season of fasting, alms, and prayer and study of God's Word, i.e., Lent.

Those who are in training for a race, or those who are athletes, like football players, hockey players, and the like, hold themselves to a certain diet. This is what it means to be temperate. It means to limit the amount of food, or some other form of limitation which would prevent them from performing well in the game. They exercise, and train their muscles to endure the rigors of the athletic event. They study the game, and their opponent, or the race course that is set out before them. They do all this in order that they may win the prize. St. Paul uses here the illustration of the Isthmian games, which took place near Corinth. He points out that in these games there is only one winner.

Not so, in the Christian Church, everyone who prepares themselves for the race, will inherit the imperishable Crown of Life. However, the Christian life is a life of temperance, that is, limitation. This is why the Church fasts at certain times, and on certain days during the Church year. So that it might learn temperance, that is, to live without all the trappings of life. When we learn temperance, when we learn to be content in whatever situation we are in, several things happen.

One, we learn to be humble. Part of humility is contentment, that is, not having to be the biggest, and best, or most famous person on the planet earth, but being content with who we are, and the situation we are in. Two, we also become more ready to hear our Lord, for we are not constantly searching or requesting Him to do this or that, or perform some great and grand task, so that we might be given proof of His existence. Three, we become more generous, and this relates to what is commonly called "alms-giving." Alms come from the word for "mercy." And so, even though alms typically today refers to cash or monetary donations, alms is really about works of mercy, that is, doing for other people what needs to be done for them. When we are content with what we own, we are more willing to give to other people who are in need, because through the exercise of temperance, we have learned that we really need very little in this life, and what we do need, the Lord God will provide for us. Fourth, when we learn that we don't need all of the trappings of this world, we greatly reduce the amount of temptations to sin that affect our daily lives, since we will tend to listen to the Lord God, rather the world, and its lies. And this ultimately is what temperance does for us, is it teaches us to trust in our Lord and Savior, fully and completely.

This is why the Church fasts, why it runs the race set before it, so that it might learn to trust in our Lord God more completely, for in doing so, we win the Crown of Life. This race begins at Holy Baptism, as the Blessed Apostle, St. Paul, points out in regards to the people of Israel at the time of the Exodus.

They were all baptized "into Moses" in the cloud as they passed through the Red Sea. Since Moses, being the prefigurement of our Lord Jesus, is mentioned as the one into whom the Israelites were baptized, meaning they placed their trust solely into Moses, St. Paul is giving a picture of our baptism into Christ Jesus. Indeed they show their faith in Moses, and by extension in God, by eating the food which he supplied, and drinking the water which he supplied, and in so doing they revealed their faith in the promise of the Messiah, who was the True spiritual Rock, and that was our Lord Jesus Christ. However, St. Paul is making a different point. He is pointing out what happened to the Israelites, after their "baptism." They spent forty years in the wilderness, living from day to day, by God's grace, on the rations that were supplied to them.

It is this type of temperance, that the people of Israelites endured that made them trust in the Lord God more fully, and prepared them to enter into the land of Canaan, their promised homeland. We also practice temperance in this life, through fasting, prayer, and study of God's Word, so that we learn to trust in our Lord more fully, and we are prepared to enter into our eternal Canaan, our Heavenly home, where we will receive the Crown of Life.

And St. Paul points out one more thing. He is not telling the people of Corinth to do something that he doesn't do himself. For he also disciplines his body, and brings it into subjection. He also fasts, practices temperance, and does all the things listed above, for St. Paul has learned the value of these things, and he has learned how these things make him a stronger Christian, and increases his relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Therefore, today, St. Paul invites us to be temperant, to run the race that is set out before us, so that we may inherit the eternal Crown of Life. May the Lord grant us grace to receive this great gift, and may we learn the value of fasting, and put it into practice, so that we might learn temperance, and have our faith increased by this spiritual exercise.

God be with you!

Deacon Dulas

The People Who Sat in Darkness Have Seen A Great Light: St. Matthew 4:12-17

St. Matthew 4:12-17: "12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 'The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.' 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

St. John the Baptist is put in prison. It would seem that as soon as our Lord Jesus shows up, the devil immediately begins to do all things that he can to put obstacles in the way of our Lord's work. Our Lord will have no rest from the devil, and his tempations, and his questioning and harassing of Him until He is dead on the cross. Such is our Lord's life. All of the temptations, troubles, sorrows, trials, dangers, and the like that we face throughout our lives, our Lord Jesus faces in abundance. His pain, His sorrow, His trials and temptations are greater than we ever experience, for the devil can win if he succeed in getting our Lord Jesus off of His mission of saving us.

But our Lord is fit to the task. He does not waver, but trusts completely in His Father, that His Father could send down legions of angels to assist Him if He so desired. However, as we learn from Scripture, our Lord Jesus takes the punishment, takes the abuse of the devil, in order that He might fulfill His work of salvation on our account. This is the love of our Savior. This is His grace. He takes on our temptation and punishment; And this, in more abundance than we ever experience.

Our Lord Jesus, however, is not, it would appear from His departing into Galilee after St. John the Baptist's imprisonment, afraid to avoid a situation that is not necessary for Him to experience. He would not have much of a ministry, if He began preaching near the Jordan River like St. John the Baptist, and then was arrested like him before His time. And so, He retreats to Galilee, and makes His home there in Capernaum. We are told by the Evangelist St. Matthew, that this was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah. Our Lord would abode in Zebulun and Naphtali by the sea.

The interesting thing to note about the prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah is that Galilee is considered the land of the Gentiles. This poses the question, "Why in the land of the Gentiles?" Galilee was divided into two sections by King Solomon, one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles. It is here in the section set apart for the Gentiles that our Lord takes His abode. This region of Zebulun and Naphtali, was also the first section of Israel that was lead into captivity and exile by the Assyrians. So it seems that our Lord takes His abode in the place where the darkness and shadow of sin and death were at its greatest. Our Lord Jesus comes to the darkest place, spiritually speaking, to shed the Light of the Gospel upon these who so desperately need it.

It would seem that the use of the word "retreat" is a little bit of an overstatement. So let us follow so far the steps of Our Lord Jesus Christ's adult life as we know it. He is baptized, and then spends 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil, then after St. John the Baptist is put in prison, He leaves Judea, where he was preaching, and then (we are told by the Evangelist St. Luke) He goes to Nazareth to preach in the synagogue, in which they want to throw Him off a cliff, and now the Evangelist St. Matthew tells us that the prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah is fulfilled by our Lord's abiding in Capernaum of Galilee. It appears that our Lord is faced with adversity throughout the beginning of His ministry. And where does He go? He goes to the place that is the darkest, where Satan's power would seem to be the strongest, and makes His abode there.

This is what our Lord Jesus does for us, He takes on the devil head on. He does this through His preaching. And if one examines the preaching of St. John the Baptist, and our Lord Jesus Christ here in the Gospel of St. Matthew, one would find that the sermon is exactly the same. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mystically speaking, we have an instance where the Law, represented by the preaching of St. John the Baptist who was the last of the Propets of the Law, gives way to the Gospel, represented by our Lord Jesus who is the Light of the world.

In this manner, our Lord comes to us. He comes with His preaching into the darkness of our lives full of sin, and sheds the Light of His Gospel upon us. He calls us out of darkness into His glorious Light. Therefore, the beautiful words of the Prophet Isaiah are fulfilled in our midst whenever the Word of God is preached and taught in its purity, and the Sacraments are given out according to Christ's intention, that is, "the people who sat in darkness have seen a great Light." That "Great Light" is our Lord. And although this prophecy was directed at those who were lead captive by the Assyrians, it finds its true fulfillment in the all those who hear the Word of God and believe it.

May we ever see this Great Light and be rescued from the darkness of our sins.

God be with you!

Deacon Dulas