“Thorn in the flesh”

THE phrase appears in St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, describing St. Paul’s affliction that was meant to keep him from becoming arrogant. We can just speculate what that “thorn” specifically was. What is clear is that the flesh, if not properly animated by the Spirit of Christ, is always a traitor. It simply goes with its own erratic ways. 

] We need to be always wary of this danger, and try our best to dominate our flesh with the proper spirit of Christ which is a spirit of love, of generous self-giving. And this is where the heart plays an important role, seeing to it that it beats with God’s love. Otherwise, what Christ said one time comes true: “From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.” (Mk 7, 21-22) 

 In this regard, we have to see to it that any disciplining we do to our flesh should be done with love and end with love. This is crucial because if the disciplining is simply done in a voluntaristic way, without the affection of God’s love, the flesh will find a way to make its revenge, claiming its supposedly lost rights in moments when we are most vulnerable, like when we are already resting. 

 That´s why, in the long history of ascetical literature written and lived by saints through the centuries, there has been that consistent insistence to curb the tendencies of the flesh to give way to the more important aspirations of the spirit. 

 These two constituent elements of our human nature have become fierce competitors, not so much on the part of the spirit as it is on the part of the body. The trouble is that our body wants to dominate the spirit, reversing the order proper to our nature. 

 This tension was vividly expressed by Christ himself when he warned his sleepy disciples—Peter, James and John—to watch and pray, because ¨the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.¨ 

 To remedy this predicament, Christ taught that we enter by the narrow gate—putting ourselves in some inconveniences and discomfort, etc.—because ¨wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to perdition.¨ 

 In fact, in the end, he indicated that to follow him, we have to deny ourselves and carry the cross. And so, the cross or the sense of penance, sacrifice and mortification has been made an integral part of Christian life and even of human life in general. We would go crazy without it. 

 Of course, the flesh or the body also has to be given due care. It cannot and should not be taken for granted. This is because the body, for all its shortcomings and failings, form a unity with the spirit. 

 There has to be a more pro-active effort to establish and keep a link between the body and the soul, between the flesh and the spirit. These two constitutive elements of our being should work harmoniously for each other’s advantage and benefit. 

 “Your bodies are the shrines of the Holy Spirit…glorify God by making your bodies the shrines of his presence,” St. Paul tells us (1 Cor 6,19-20). We have to take care of it, because as St. Paul says, sin finds an ally in our body, that is, the flesh or the lower part of man—our senses, instincts, passions, etc. 

 Taking care of it means to submit it to Christ’s spirit which does not nullify but rather purifies and elevates the natural condition of our body.

Pursuing the good without God

THIS is how self-righteousness is developed. When we would just depend on our own ideas about what is true, good and beautiful, independently of God, there is no way but for us to fall into this trap of self-righteousness which is always marked with rigidity, proneness to rash judgments, critical thoughts, bitter zeal, etc. It would be a pursuit of the good without charity and mercy. 

 We are reminded of this danger in that gospel episode where Christ’s disciples were accused by the self-righteous Pharisees of eating with unwashed hands. (cfr. Mk 7,1-13) That was when Christ told them: 

 “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 

 Self-righteousness is a common disease, since all of us have our share of pride and arrogance. We may not acknowledge it—a more insidious situation to be in, since pride has a tremendous blinding power—but we can fall into it from time to time, especially when we make rash judgments, easily jump to conclusions, stereotype or brand people, making a habit of finding fault in others, etc. 

 What is worse is when it is not only quiet and secretive, but rather open and loud, and can get even physical, or when it defines the very character of a person. It is shown in the way he carries himself, how he looks at others, how he speaks and reacts to things. He oozes with over-self-confidence, with a tone of voice that cannot be other than bossy and strident. 

 That’s when we can speak of the self-righteous bully. He gives the impression that he knows everything, that he is superior to others, etc. He is usually one who is gifted in some way—physically, intellectually or, worse, spiritually. 

 The source of their problem are the gifts given to them, which they do not know how to handle properly. Instead of being humbled by them and always aware that the gifts are meant for God’s glory and the good of others, they make these endowments a source of their pride. They are highly opinionated. They like to dominate any discussion. They want always to have the last word. 

 We have to be most careful of this spiritual virus. The moment we see the slightest signs of its onset in us, we have to react immediately and strongly, deepening our humility and strengthening our desire to always glorify God and to be at the service of others. 

 We should reflect the attitude of Christ who said that “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20,28) We have to learn how to pass unnoticed even as we are determined in carrying out our tasks and duties in life. 

 The awareness of our gifts or special charisms should also intensify the awareness of the great responsibility we have to fulfill because of them. Because of this, we should always feel the need to go to God, convinced that it can only be with him that we can do things properly. We should never think we can simply rely on our own powers.

“Pilgrims of Hope”

THAT’S the theme of the Jubilee Year 2025 as declared by Pope Francis last year. The Jubilee Year began last December 24 and will end on January 6, 2026. The idea behind is to encourage everyone to make pilgrimages that hopefully would foster forgiveness, conversion as well as a joyful celebration. 

 Indeed, our life here on earth can be likened to a pilgrimage toward our ultimate destination, which is heaven. It should be not be understood simply as a trip from one place to another, from one state of life to another. It’s a journey that should be eminently marked with a religious purpose and character. That is how we have to understand our life here on earth. 

 And to be a good pilgrim of hope, the secret is, of course, to always be with Christ and to go back to him as soon as possible every time we happen to stray from him. Let us act out what took place in one gospel episode where the people, upon knowing that Christ was around, immediately went to see him and brought others who need some special help from Christ. (cfr. Mk 6,53-56) 

 We know that in spite of all the in spites of, we have all the reasons to be always hopeful and optimistic. And that's simply because God our Father, our unfailing lover, is always in control of everything, regardless of how we mess up his designs for us. 

 We have reason to be hopeful and optimistic as long as in all our affairs and situations in life, we manage to go to God to ask for his help and guidance, and to trust his ways and his providence, even if the outcome of our prayers and petitions appears unanswered, if not, contradicted. 

 This should be the attitude to have. It’s an attitude that can only indicate our unconditional faith and love for God who is always in control of things, and at the same time can also leave us in peace and joy even in the worst of scenarios. 

 Especially in our present condition that involves an increase of pressure, confusing knowledge overdrives, increasingly sophisticated challenges and difficulties, we have to realize more deeply that we need to seriously cultivate this virtue of hope. There’s no other way. It’s either that or we get into a free-fall toward disorder, chaos and desperation. 

 Our problem is that, as usual, we have a very limited idea of hope. And from that handicapped position, it’s obvious that all sorts of dangers, confusion and errors can ensue. 

 Among the anomalies besetting our understanding of hope is that it is a purely man-made virtue, with only earthly and natural dimensions and relying solely on human and material resources. 

 We seem to get stranded in the external properties of the virtue, without entering into its real essence, significance and practicability. We need to recover the true nature and purpose of hope, and spread its knowledge and skill far and wide. That’s what we urgently need these days. 

 First, we need to understand that hope is a gift from God, one of what are called theological virtues. As such, it goes always in this life with the other pair of faith and charity. 

 The immediate corollary of this reality is that the first thing we have to do about it is to ask for it, often kneeling and begging God our Father not only to grant it to us, which he actually does unstintingly, but also to increase it all the time.