God’s Strength Revealed Through Paul’s Weakness – Aug 31 – Homily – Fr Michael

 

Fr. Michael M. Gauvreau, FI, gives the homily on how God's power is revealed through human weakness, as exemplified by St. Paul, and how our disposition is key to receiving God's word and grace, urging us to cultivate attentiveness and imitate the saints to live in Christ's love and wisdom.

Fr. Michael begins by recalling St. Paul's declaration in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, that he came not with eloquent words but resolved to know only Jesus Christ crucified. Despite St. Paul's perceived weakness in preaching, God's strength worked through him (1 Corinthians 1:27-29), enabling him to convert many. The homily emphasizes that while faith comes through preaching (Romans 10:17), the disposition of the listener is equally crucial. This is powerfully illustrated by Jesus' experience in Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30). Though divine, Jesus was rejected by His own townspeople due to their poor dispositions. They expected miracles on their terms and were angered by His correction, particularly His references to the widow of Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian (Luke 4:25-27), implying God's favor extends beyond them. When they tried to hurl Him off a cliff, Jesus calmly passed through their midst (Luke 4:30), demonstrating His power. The homily calls us to self-examine our own dispositions when encountering God's word. We must ask the Lord to increase our attentiveness and cultivate a habit of imitating the saints, who serve as "living icons" of Christ's life. By embracing good examples and acting with love, we avoid being "clanging gongs" (1 Corinthians 13:1) and instead speak and act in the power, love, and wisdom of Jesus Christ, enabling Him to work moral miracles in our lives and those around us.

Pope Benedict XVI 2008 – Cross reveals God's power and love beyond human wisdom – https://airmaria.com/go/kRfhQD
Commission – Worldly wisdom deems cross foolish but it is God's wisdom – https://airmaria.com/go/Ukc3NH
Pope John Paul II – Christian philosophy relationship demands thorough discernment per Saint Paul – https://airmaria.com/go/mYR6bU
2 Corinthians 12:9 – God's power made perfect in weakness – https://airmaria.com/go/iCBR8J
CCC 272 – God's omnipotence works through human weakness – https://airmaria.com/go/j5t27X
CCC 143 – Faith is a free response to God – https://airmaria.com/go/QcYNyr

00:00 - St. Paul's Message: Jesus Christ and Him Crucified
00:25 - St. Paul's Weakness and God's Strength in Preaching
02:10 - The Importance of Dispositions in Hearing God's Word
04:19 - Jesus Rejected in Nazareth Due to Dispositions
05:26 - The People's Fury and Jesus' Miraculous Passage
07:20 - Cultivating Attentive Dispositions to God's Word
08:52 - Living with the Love and Wisdom of Christ

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday in the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/083126.cfm
1st: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - True Wisdom
Resp: Psalms 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102 - Delight in God's Law
Gsp: Luke 4:16-30 - Rejection at Nazareth

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=930

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJHgQcgT1w