In Our Weakness
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
... "He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 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. (2 Cor 12: 9-10).
People do not like to admit that they have weaknesses. For one thing, they are ashamed to admit they are not in control or that they have problems. We keep our inner feelings to ourselves, particularly when they are negatives. These weaknesses are known by God. They are, unfortunately also known by Satan. For Satan finds us most pliable or fickle when we are weak, and Satan's cause célèbre is to take us away from God. Nevertheless, there is reason to hope for better times when we are weak... for to be strong we first need to be weak! We need to admit that we need help. And, for the faithful, that is where Our Lord comes in with His healing!
The French Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet (1627-1704), proclaimed, "When God desires a work to be wholly from His hand, he reduces all to impotence and nothingness, and then He acts." The key in both the Scripture and Bossuet's homily is that God's Grace is sufficient to heal us, provided we allow Him to heal us. When we are weak and our defenses are low (e.g. impotent), then God heals us.
If we are people of prayer, people who are close to Jesus as every Secular Franciscan should be, then they know this relationship inside out. They know that in order to be healed they must be humble and tell all (in the Confessional), be penitent and firmly intend to sin no more. It is only by repeated daily conversion that sins can be overcome. Also, we must not choose which sin to overcome. We must choose to overcome ALL sins. Those who do not have a personal walk with Jesus need to change their ways. Admit your weakness in the confessional, or if you are not Catholic, just pray about it, and ask Our Lord for forgiveness, making a firm commitment to do better in the future. Anyone on earth can have a stronger relationship with God - doesn't matter what religion is involved. God loves you deeply!
He desires your companionship and your commitment to love Him more each day. Some people who are not willing to admit their weaknesses, their sins, to someone, to God, to yourself, to a priest if applicable, to a minister, a Rabbi, or even to a good friend (friends often go through the same difficulties together), they are fooling themselves. We all suffer, we are all affected by "Original Sin." That is, except Our Blessed Lady who is conceived without Original Sin (this is a Dogma of the Catholic Church), and, of course, Our Lord Jesus Christ. The much over-quoted line applies: "Jesus is like us in all ways except sin." Jesus Christ came on this earth for one purpose only, to suffer a horrible death on a wooden Cross in order for us to be saved. Many people, particularly non-Catholics refer to their "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" as a belief that they are saved. But they fail to realize that daily conversion is part of the deal - we have to stay good, God-fearing people, on a daily basis, to really be saved. Catholics know that "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" is a private (can also be public) recognition that Charismatic Prayer Groups recommend. I think every Catholic should reaffirm their Baptismal Promises and make this commitment in the Holy Spirit to be "born again" - and then begin again to live your Faith with a deeper commitment and determination to sin no more.
In order to accomplish this, we must be able to recognize what is wrong, and to make an Act of Contrition in order to be forgiven and to be healed! First I was weak, and then I was strong - that's God's Healing working in you!
May God bless you and all our sisters and brothers!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
09/24/2008 (BFR312), rev. 03/10/2026