As we journey through the pre-Lenten season of Septuagesima, Holy Mother Church presents us with the rich readings of 2 Corinthians 11:19-33; 12:1-9 and Luke 8:4-15 on this Feria VI after Sexagesima Sunday. These passages, illuminated by the wisdom of the Church Fathers, call us to embrace our weaknesses in Christ and prepare our souls as fertile ground for His Word.
Glory in Weakness: St. Paul’s Apostolic Sufferings
In the Epistle, St. Paul confronts the Corinthians for their willingness to endure false apostles while questioning his own authority. In a striking passage, he “boasts” of his sufferings:
“Of the Jews five times did I receive forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea” (2 Cor. 11:24-25).
This is not the boast of the world, but rather, as St. John Chrysostom explains, Paul turns worldly wisdom on its head:
“The false apostles boasted of their honor, their influence, and their eloquence; but Paul, desiring to show that suffering for Christ is greater than all these, glories rather in his tribulations.” (Homily 25 on 2 Corinthians)
This is the paradox of Christian strength: in suffering, Paul becomes a true apostle. In weakness, he reveals the power of Christ. When he speaks of being “caught up to the third heaven” (2 Cor. 12:2), he refuses to boast of this great mystical experience, instead choosing to highlight the thorn in his flesh—a mysterious trial given to keep him humble.
St. Augustine sees this as a lesson in divine pedagogy:
“Lest Paul be exalted, a thorn was given him, so that he might learn to rely not on himself, but on Him from whom all strength comes.” (Sermon 160)
How often do we long for spiritual consolations while resisting the trials that God allows for our sanctification? Like Paul, we must learn to trust in the Lord’s words: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for power is made perfect in infirmity” (2 Cor. 12:9).
The Sower and the Soil of Our Hearts
The Gospel gives us the Parable of the Sower, in which Christ describes how the Word of God falls upon different types of soil:
- The wayside: Those who hear but let the devil snatch the Word away.
- The rocky ground: Those who receive it with joy but have no root.
- The thorny ground: Those choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life.
- The good soil: Those who hear the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit.
St. Gregory the Great provides a sobering commentary on this passage:
“Many hear the Word with joy, but when the heat of temptation arises, they fall away. For the root of love has not yet penetrated deeply into their hearts.” (Homily 15 on the Gospels)
Here, we see a connection between the thorn in Paul’s flesh and the thorns in the parable: one is given for humility, while the other chokes out the Word. The difference lies in whether we accept trials with trust or allow them to separate us from Christ.
St. John Chrysostom warns against allowing worldly concerns to dominate our hearts:
“See how riches are not blamed, but those who are held fast by them? The evil is not in wealth itself, but in how it is used.” (Homily 44 on Matthew)
Application: Preparing for Lent
As we approach the holy season of Lent, these readings invite us to examine ourselves:
- Do we, like Paul, accept our weaknesses as a means of growing in grace?
- What kind of soil is our heart? Do we allow the trials and cares of life to choke out the Word of God?
St. Paul’s example teaches us to embrace suffering, for in our weakness, Christ’s strength is made perfect. The parable reminds us that without perseverance, we will bear no fruit.
Let us then prepare for Lent with humble hearts, asking God for the grace to be fertile soil, receptive to His Word and ready to endure all things for the sake of Christ.
May the words of St. Paul be ours:
“Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
Domine, da mihi cor humile et fertile!—Lord, give me a humble and fruitful heart!
Amen.