“Macho Man?”

2 Corinthians 11: 28, 29: “Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the Churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?” The book of Acts depicts an apostle going through a hellish litany of physical assault for the sake of Christ and His Church, and here and in several other places the man of God reveals that it barely scratches the surface. But for St. Paul, this is nothing compared to the vicarious suffering he undergoes for the believers. Contrary to his opposition in the Church who boasted of their exploits, he saw true strength as being willing to suffer for and with his flock; thus, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (12: 10).