Thorns and Prayers

Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” [2 Corinthians 12:7b-8].

A great deal of ink has been spilled over the years in essays, sermons, and reflections upon Paul’s so-called “thorn in the flesh.” That thorn is described—well, not so much “described” as “mentioned”—in the Epistle reading for this upcoming Sunday, the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (RCL, Year B). You’ve likely come across the passage—2 Corinthians 12:2-10—multiple times in your Biblical studies.

Paul, having established the church in Corinth, then went on to start fledgling churches in other towns and cities in the area. But while the cat’s away, the mice will play. Others, whom Paul describes sarcastically as “super-apostles” [e.g., 2 Corinthians 11:5] have come along in his absence and begun to manipulate the Corinthians based upon their special claims to authority. There is even some evidence that these “evangelists” have physically abused some in the Corinthian congregation and that they have taken advantage of free labor from others in the group.

Paul, in his own inimitable way, is angry not only at the super-apostles, but also at those in the congregation who have been taken in by the false claims. The super-apostles boast that they possess special spiritual powers. They also claim that Paul lacks them. Paul, not one to take such challenges lying down, points out that if they want to hear about high levels of spirituality, they need travel no further than Paul himself since—14 years earlier—he was “caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat” [2 Cor. 12:4].

Indeed, Paul continues that he is privy to revelations of an “exceptional character,” although again, he will not divulge the specifics. Then he adds his famous twist to the scenario. Paul relates that in order that he not be too “elated”—one might also say “too haughty”—about being so wonderfully singled out by God, “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me” [2 Cor. 12:7b].

As one would imagine, there has been much speculation about the nature of Paul’s “thorn.” Some say it must have been epilepsy or multiple sclerosis? Others posit that Paul was subject to migraine headaches. Still others speculate that he might have had some spinal deformity. Maybe he stuttered; the list goes on (and on, and on). I think one reason Paul wasn’t specific about the nature of “his thorn” was that he understood that he wasn’t the only person who had to endure one.

To be sure, most of us haven’t (yet) been caught up into Paradise. Unlike Paul, most of us don’t need a thorn to keep us spiritually humble. Yet, all too many of us nevertheless have thorns. We may have financial concerns, based upon bad luck or poor planning. We may have broken relationships that we desperately wish could be mended. Some of us have significant health concerns. I talked yesterday with a good friend about this Second Corinthians passage, and he indicated that during the past year and a half, COVID-19 had given him a new appreciation for the “thorn in one’s flesh”. Indeed, the world is a thorny place.

What fascinates me the most about this passage of scripture is the fact that Paul’s prayers for relief seemed not to be effective. Picture it, Paul, “a slave of Jesus Christ” [Romans 1:1]—the one who had said “Yes” to Christ on the Damascus Road—prayed to his Lord “three times” that the thorn be removed, but it remained in him after each prayer. Instead of divine “tweezers,” Paul was given a simple, yet hauntingly beautiful response by his Lord, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

One more thing: Why is Christ’s Grace sufficient? Because, as our Lord tells Paul and us, Christ’s “power is made perfect in weakness” [2 Cor. 12:9a]. Paul prayed that the thorn be removed, but it remained. In Gethsemane, on the night that he was betrayed, Jesus prayed that the “cup” be removed from him, if that was possible. We know that it was not. Our Lord was made to carry a cross through the winding streets of Jerusalem so that He might be killed on Golgotha. What seemed like a powerless enterprise—death on a cross—turned out instead to be the instrument through which humanity was saved. Christ’s Grace was sufficient on Good Friday. It was sufficient on Easter Sunday, at his ascension, and it is sufficient for all of us this day.

One of our close friends has weakened in recent days. In our Bible study this morning, we offered deep, longing prayers for him. In fact, many within the group pray for him daily. We pray for his wonderful and devoted wife, and also for his daughter. His physical strength may be diminished, but in this same moment, as our Lord draws near to him, we pray that our friend also hears the words that Christ uttered to Paul so long ago, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

One of the core beliefs of Christians is that Christ’s grace is accompanied by Joy. It has been said that Joy is the pure echo of God’s presence. As our friend faces the days ahead, we know that he will be cradled and comforted with Christ’s presence, and that even in these thorny moments, he will experience cascading Joy.