We aren't proud of our weaknesses, usually. We probably try to hide them and appear strong and confident. And we can see why in the readings today. It is easy to be misunderstood when other people know that we are weak. They might have trouble trusting us and turn to people who appear more strong. Yet the Corinthians would be impoverished if they turned from Paul to the so-called "super-apostles" who were at odds with him. We are called to present the world with something real. We are called to be like Paul, weak, yet sustained by God. We do not make false promises. We cannot say that if people follow our way they will experience no weakness. Instead we reveal how God is present within such weakness. We display God's strength at work in our weakness. We realize the truth of the LORD's words, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness" (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9).
This can seem a little too real. But the world is fed up with false promises. The world needs this. The reality of suffering is omnipresent. But the power of God is greater. He can transform even the weakness of our suffering and use them to bring about greater goods that we can't even imagine. This is what the world really longs to see.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
The lowly and the poor are all to aware of suffering in the world. For it to just, poof, disappear, would be too simple. It would not explain why it was ever permitted. But God allows suffering that greater goods may come. He allows the sin and fall of Adam so that we might receive the love and redemption of the new Adam, Jesus Christ. He allows suffering because in the suffering of the cross he is able to reveal his love for us in the most perfect way. When we allow ourselves to be weak we allow God to make this truth evident even in our own lives. Do we trust him enough to do it? When we experience "the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety" are we able to trust that God is doing something good even here and now, something so good, in fact, that it will all be worth it?
If we store up treasures on earth we tend to insist on the earthly strength of super apostles who promise and guarantee that our prizes will not be subject to moth, decay, or thieves. But earthly treasures are subject to these things. If the eye is fixed on treasures like these our weaknesses will always assault us. They will always reveal the shifting sands on which all things are built, all things save God alone.
For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Let us make him our treasure. Then our hearts will be with him, free from the threat of moth, decay, and thieves. Then we will gladly offer our weaknesses to him.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church (cf. Col. 1:24)
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