Context
So much of our news is about the very strong or the very weak. On the one hand, we hear about the forthcoming meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, or about world cup footballers. And on the other, we are told about migrants missing in the Mediterranean sea, or afraid of having their children taken from them.
The strong and the weak live in different worlds. The strong are given individual attention; their actions and decisions affect the lives of millions. The weak stay anonymous, and have to wait passively for decisions to be taken about them. The gulf hit home to me when I read an article about the homeless here in Birmingham being unable to get enough to drink during the recent heatwave – turned away if they went into a shop or café and asked for water.
Reflection
We are all human beings with strengths and weaknesses. But it can be difficult to admit weakness. Our society tends to value those with power, money, health or beauty. So, we struggle to compete. And huge pressure is put upon us to hit our targets. Social media can make things worse – everyone else’s life seems to be on track. The burden on young people is particularly great, be it over exam results or body image, and there are increasing worries about the effects on their mental health.
It is possible, however, to challenge these values. Mahatma Gandhi famously said, ‘The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members’. That was the vision of the NHS, whose 70th Anniversary we are celebrating. It was founded in the aftermath of the second world war, when the nation was prepared to pull together and look after each other. We are still rightly proud of it. But the vision of supporting the most vulnerable is under strain. Social care, for example, is in crisis. A major expansion of children’s mental health services is needed. And meanwhile, some of those who have staffed the NHS are caught up in the Windrush scandal. We need to maintain pressure on our political leaders, and insist that we want a society in which all are treated with dignity.
Paul’s message, however, was not simply about looking after the weak. It was more radical than that. He insisted that the power of Christ becomes known through weakness. One community inspired to put his insight into practice is L'Arche, where people with and without learning disabilities live together. Their founder, Jean Vanier, now 89, talks about ‘How to lose power’. He emphasises the importance of relationships. Once we acknowledge that all are children of God, and we no longer have to pretend to be better than others, there’s a liberation to be ourselves. And that’s a revelation. When we can be truly open to each other, and receive each other’s gifts, there’s a moment of communion and joy.
Prayer
Two collects, based on 2 Cor 12.7-10
O God who chooses
what is foolish in the world
to shame the wise,
give us grace to let go
of our strivings for status
and our need to boast,
that in our weakness
the power of Christ
may rest upon us.
Amen.
O God of discomfort,
we bring to you those people
we consider to be thorns in the flesh,
those who harass and annoy us:
give us grace to see them through your eyes,
and discover your power made perfect in weakness.
Amen.
Questions
- What would you consider to be your strengths and weaknesses?
- Has a weakness of yours ever turned out to be a source of strength, either for yourself or others?
- What is the thorn in your flesh? How might God be speaking through it?
All-age activity
Divide the group into pairs, and blindfold one person in each pair. Ask the person who can still see to guide their partner through an obstacle course. In the easier version touch is allowed; in the more difficult version the guiding is by voice alone. Then swap roles. Afterwards, talk about what it is like to be deprived of sight and have to rely on someone else. In what other situations do we have to admit our weakness and trust in the strength of others?
Young people
Brainstorm two lists of what your peers would consider to be ‘strengths’ and ‘weaknesses’. Do you ever feel imprisoned or oppressed by these judgements? Are there any ways of challenging the categories? Can you think of anyone who is confident being themselves, despite having what might be perceived as a ‘weakness’? And how do we help each other feel good about who we are?
Ann Conway-Jones is an honorary research fellow at The Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education. The year she spent living with L’Arche was one of the formative experiences of her life.
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ROOTS publishes weekly lectionary-based worship and learning resources online and in two magazines.
PostScript is also available via Twitter and facebook.
ROOTS publishes weekly lectionary-based worship and learning resources online and in two magazines.