Going beyond human limits

A MOST interesting passage in St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians is very relevant to us given, on the one hand, our limitations, mistakes, failures and sins, and on the other, our exacting spiritual and supernatural goals that require heroic efforts.

It’s the following: “Strength is made perfect in weakness. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the strength of Christ may dwell in me. Wherefore I am satisfied, for Christ’s sake, with infirmities, with insults, with hardships, with persecutions, with distresses. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (9-10)

Of course, we need to understand this truth very well, which is of a highly spiritual and supernatural nature, and spread it as widely as possible, since many of us can be wallowing in the cesspool of difficulties and led to the brink of despair, with no idea of how to get out of it.

We have to slowly but surely explain not only the wisdom but also the practicability of this truth. We need to empower ourselves with this wonderful reality that’s actually very accessible if only we know how.

The secret, for sure, is to have faith, the kind that can truly move mountains. It’s a gift God gives to us to which we should also learn how to correspond.

It’s a gift that has clear doctrinal substance found in the gospel and authoritatively taught by the Church as well as elaborated in Christian tradition and in Christian philosophy and theology.

That task is to go through the relevant doctrine, letting it sink deeper into our consciousness and flower in attitudes, habits and virtues. We need to receive a continuing influx of the doctrinal impulses to facilitate the work of grace in us.

There are many gospel passages containing Christ’s words and example that reinforce our faith in this truth. That Christ gives preferential treatment to those who are ill, weak and broken, that he gives rest to those who are over-overburdened, etc., are reassurances we are dealing here with reality, not fantasy.

His words articulating the beatitudes—Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, who are meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merciful, etc., indicate how our lowliness and weakness can be the path to our salvation. They contradict the usual tendencies of our overly human wisdom.

These values and lifestyles that spring from them can be seen in the lives of Christ, the apostles, the saints and many holy men and women through the years and even of today.

A quick look at their lives reveals a certain kind of invincibility that they enjoyed in spite of or because of their weaknesses. Christ achieved the redemption of humanity through his death on the cross. St. Paul has a beautiful description of this reality:

“Though he was by nature God, Jesus did not consider being equal to God a thing to be clung to, but emptied himself, taking the nature of a slave and being made like unto men. And appearing in the form of man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross.” (Phil 2,6-8)

St. Paul himself boasted of his difficulties and suffering. He was imprisoned, scourged, exposed to death, etc., saying that “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.” (2 Cor 11,30)

Fact is there are many people around us who go through this divine logic in their hour of weakness and suffering. If we humbly accept our limitations and mistakes, we would find it easier to go Christ, to ask for forgiveness and help.

Besides, such attitude of itself attracts divine attention. A psalm expresses this truth this way: “The Lord is near to those who are of contrite heart. He will save the humble of spirit. Many are the afflictions of the just. But out of them all will the Lord deliver them.” (34,18)

It’s always with a humble and contrite heart that enables us to receive God’s grace. It’s with this heart that converts weakness into strength, and fans the fire of spiritual growth.

We have to be wary of our tendency to seek purely human means to tackle our various predicaments. We cannot rely solely on a lucky strike of our natural endowments of intelligence and character, nor of things like pills and potions, physical exercises, diets or psychological conditionings.

While these elements are always useful, they would be nothing but sources of danger without the support of our spiritual and supernatural source of strength.