We are Weak

There’s nothing quite like deep life chats late at night.  My older sister was home for the week, visiting from North Carolina, so naturally, the four of us siblings sat in the kitchen Saturday night talking until 1 AM.  Much of our conversation focused on our dad and how his Frontotemporal Dementia has continued to progress rapidly, causing him to go downhill quickly in the last several months.  It’s been over ten years so it shouldn’t feel hard, yet it is.  Shouldn’t we be strong by now?  For the most part, we laugh at the crazy, unbelievable things that happen on a daily basis.  But sometimes, we cry.  It is only because of being vulnerable and sharing the struggles that we can experience the laughter and joy.

We heard in this weekend’s second reading, “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” ( Corinthians 12:10).  It is through our weaknesses and struggles that we find strength through Christ.  It’s often tempting to think that we have it all together, that we are like cement walls that cannot be moved or shaken.  When we have these thoughts and try to rely on our own human strength we will break much more easily.  When we admit to our difficulties and weaknesses and rely on Jesus’ perfect strength, we become strong.

A lot of times, people think vulnerability is a bad thing.  They see being vulnerable as a sign of weakness.  Being vulnerable means going deeper in our relationships with others and trusting more.  It allows us to connect more deeply.  It means sharing our hearts, thus revealing our weaknesses and struggles.  Being vulnerable requires courage.  Have you ever started crying in front of a group of people while giving a talk or cried in a co-worker’s office?  These types of situations can be embarrassing but usually out of our control.  They show that we are willing to take risks and that our hearts do not have walls around them.  When we are vulnerable, we allow others to accompany us in our sufferings and lift us up in prayer, which is what we are all called to do for one another.

Jesus showed us what it means to be vulnerable.  He wept at times.  He cried out to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He hung fully exposed, beaten and bloodied, on the cross for us.  Jesus’ vulnerability was not weakness, but strength.  It is through His strength that He shows us what it looks like to love completely, without barriers.  To be vulnerable means to fully expose our emotions but it also means to love and allow ourselves to be loved.

Rather than trying to cover up our struggles and hardships, we should work to be open and vulnerable.  This allows us to lean into our faith and be drawn closer to Jesus.  Our strength pales in comparison to His.  If we allow ourselves to give up our own strength and walk into our weaknesses, we will find that we are stronger.  

At times when we feel weak and tired may we pray: 

Jesus, many days, this cross feels too heavy.  I am weak and walking this path often feels like a crawl.  Help me to carry this cross with grace, perseverance, and strength that comes only from You.  Help me to have the faith to carry it and help me remember what it means to be your disciple.  When I question the suffering and doubt your goodness, may I offer everything up to you.   Help me know that I do not walk alone and that you are carrying this cross with me, guiding me every step of the way with your strength.  Amen.