Paul: A Man of Suffering and Surrender!

This week we'll be looking at a reading from something that Paul had written for the followers of Christ at Corinth.   Although some of Paul's letters are disputed, scholars do attribute most of the Corinthians letters, which is thought to have been several letters condensed to just two, with perhaps a few others sources woven in as well, to Paul, the Jewish follower of Christ.  The "Pauline" letters are important because they are among the earliest writings of early Christianity.  And yet because they are "personal" letters written specifically to address particular situations in a particular culture, they must be read very carefully with an eye on the culture they were written in so that we do not read our own culture back into them.

We know that Paul never met Jesus in the flesh, only in his spirit on the road to Damascus.  He does, however, demonstrate a strong belief in and a dense (meaning he packed a lot of meaning in a few big words) articulation of the vibrancy of his mystical experiences with the risen Christ.  Read more about Paul and the interpretation of his letters in this article, "What Paul meant: Scholars rethink interpretations of apostle’s letters" found in the United Methodist Reporter.

What can we say about Paul from reading his letters as a whole?   Although I will tell you some of the things I think about Paul ... I invite you to take out your journal and jot down a few things you think about Paul before you read on.  I think Paul was a good Jewish man who had a hard time living up to the perfection he believed was demanded of him in the Torah, which we also refer to as the Law.  Even harder for those around him, I think he demanded the same drive for perfection in others.  And because of his passion for God's holiness and his neglect of God's love, he persecuted people when they believed differently from his interpretation of the Torah ... remember that he stood by and watched as Stephen was stoned.  He condoned murder for the offense of speaking "blasphemy."   His reaction was so different from Jesus who had mercy on the woman about to be stoned for adultery.  

I think Paul was a man "waiting" for transformation.  Perhaps deep down, he knew he was wrong but Paul wasn't a person of moderation, he was an "all or nothing" kind of guy.  I think he was a man in desperate need of transformation and found it on the road to Damascus.

'The Conversion of St. Paul' by Michelangelo Buonarroti

Source: Wikimedia Commons - Public Domain

Find Online Art for viewing at http://www.wga.hu 

As his outer nature was wasting away, his inner nature was in great need of renewal.   Paul was a man who had suffered much for what he believed and who he believed in.  I think he was a man who had surrendered his life wholly to God and to his vision of God's will.  I think he had great expectations that we would do the same, suffer and surrender!   So ... how do you discern God's will?



Perhaps you might settle into a place of openness within yourself with a simple breath prayer.  Use this one or create your own (six to eight syllables)
      Breathe in ... Change my heart  (pause)
      Breath out ... God of Change (pause)
and when you are ready to move deeper into the text ...


Pray:  God of Change, I open my heart to you.  As I read your holy word, reveal the truth to me, reveal your holiness and your love.  Never let me neglect this kind of prayer and contemplation especially in times of suffering so that I might always surrender my whole self to you.  Amen.     

Read 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 and allow the Word of God to flow over you, around you, and in you ...
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture--"I believed, and so I spoke" --we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into God's presence.  Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.  So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.  For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.  For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.



Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on just a word or phrase that draws your attention.   Sit with your word or phrase and listen to the small, still voice of God calling you to transformation ... How does this word or phrase touch you today?   Where are you in your journey of transformation?   Follow yourself on your journey and make your way deep into silent prayer.   Let any negative emotions ... fear, anxiety, anger ... float away into the healing grace of God.  Let wonder, awe, joy ... and any other feelings of peace to bubble up within you.  Let all of your emotions pour forth, even those that don't seem "appropriate."  I might even invite those emotions especially for they come to teach you and tell you who you are.  Know that God is with you and will always sit with you in your deepest emotions, even when you say crazy things or do silly things.    Sit here with God as long as you like and soak in the love God has for you and for your life.

Read the passage again slowly and Respond.   As you once again turn your attention to your word or phrase, it's really fine if it is a different one on this reading ... where are you finding the transforming power of God calling you to change or to be still or to listen ... ?  What would you like to say to God about what you are sensing about the changes that are needed in your heart and in your life?

Read the passage again and Rest.  Allow the presence of God to surround you and transform you from moment to moment.  Rest until all words have faded away and you are at rest with the peace of God cradling you in Presence ... When you sense it is time to move out of your silent meditation ...   Pray:   God of the road to Damascus, I invite you to come and change me from within, I want to be passionate like Paul but save me from thinking I know what is best for others.  Let me simply be a living testimony to your love and grace.  Lead me and guide me with loving kindness.   Amen.