[I hold up a rose.] Now here is one of God’s most beautiful creations. It is serene and calm. Roses come in numerous colors. But here’s something to ponder . . . at what point is a rose “perfect?” Is it with the petals tight? Or is it rather when the petals are fully open? We might have a preference, but a rose is as perfect it is, no matter where it is on the journey.
Now the problem with the roses that we buy at florists, is that they are been hybrid not to be as God created them. For a rose, as beautiful as it is . . . it was created with thorns on the stem. Isn’t that amazing? Some gardeners grumble because roses have thorns; I say, “I am thankful that thorns have roses.”
Because life is not always about beauty or having everything works out perfectly. St. Paul knew that well when he says in the second reading that he has a thorn in his flesh. Now of course he is speaking metaphorically . . . that is, he doesn’t really have an actual thorn in his skin, but he has something in his life that keeps piercing him and causing him aggravation. We’re not even sure if it was spiritual or emotional wound.
We never know what Paul’s thorn was . . .
maybe it was a physical condition like a limp, a speech impediment, or migraines
maybe it was an illness or disease that has been lingering
maybe he suffered depression
maybe it was an addiction, or habit, that he can’t seem to get rid of
maybe it was a sexual struggle
maybe the thorn was a difficult person (or group of people) in his life
Whatever it was, he didn’t like it and as the text said he prayed 3 times for God to remove it. Wow, probably everyone here can relate to that . . . that we’ve had a difficulty or issue that we’ve prayed to God to remove.
But Paul finally comes around and writes . . . “OK, I’ve got this thing, this wound, and God isn’t taking it away, but you know what maybe this thing, this wound, can actually help me to be a better person.”
Isn’t that amazing? Think of your own wound, your own thorn in your flesh. Most of us would want it removed. But Paul writes, “you know this is the way it is . . and maybe with this thing, I can actually become a better person. That is, I realize that I can’t be perfect nor should I be arrogant . . . but that I need to rely fully on God. That I am not in control. That God will take care of me, even in this mess or this pain.”
You see, it is as if we are invited to name our wound, our issue, as HOLY. That we become more sympathetic to the wounds of others, that we become more aware that God is in charge of life, not us. That we are invited to trust God more . . . not ourselves. Because we will always have a thing, a wound, an issue that makes us weak. As Paul wrote, “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Because my strength is not based on my perfection or my beauty [hold up the rose] but my strength comes from God.
And the wound reminds me, “Get over yourself. Life is difficult. Life is not about image or appearance. It is about our connection to God.” Think about this rose, just like all the petals come together at one point and are attached to this thorny stem, so do all our good qualities and gifts all come together from our wounds.
[Instrumental begins]
Pope Francis said, “Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God.”
There was a song made popular by Bette Midler, here is a portion of it.
It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance.
It’s the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance.
It’s the one who won’t be taken, who cannot seem to give,
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long,
And you think that grace is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love in the spring becomes the rose.