His Strength in my Weakness
Translated from a sermon by HH Pope Shenouda III
Our God is the God of the weak. The weak have a special importance in the eyes of our Lord. The weak are given special privileges that the strong would not get, for very simple reasons.
God was with Jacob, the weaker brother, of Esau, known for his strength. Jacob was frightened of his brother, Esau. When it came time for him to return home, he was fearful to the point of death from his brother. He was scared for not only his life, but the lives of his wife and children, too. God stood by Jacob and not the powerful Esau.
Another example is the Pharisee and the tax collector that both stood in the Temple. The Pharisee was proud of his power and prestige. It was spiritual strength that he relied on.
God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess
Luke 18:11-12
He trusted in his own power, and for that reason, his prayers were not received. He depended on his power, and he was proud of his power, even in front of God.
As for the tax collector, who was weak and confessed of his weakness. He felt the weight of his weakness and sin.
And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’
Luke 18:13
The mighty Pharisees and Sadducees quoted Moses’ law when a certain woman was caught in adultery. They told Christ that her punishment must be stoning. They shamed her, but God did not stand by them but the woman, to life her up from her weakness. He rescued her from their grasp.
When He revealed all their sins, He said to her, where are your accusers? Since none remained, He said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Why did He do this? He saw that she was weak, she was sick, she was tired, she was ashamed, and that she had been wronged.
She did not ask for God’s protection, or His help, or mercy, or even protection. She did not call on God. Don’t think that God waits to be asked. God doesn’t answer what we ask of Him. He answers in His compassion to our feelings when we are put down.
God will always protect the weak, even before they ask. He will always protect the poor and needy. If you stand strong in front of yourself, in front of others, then God can never stand with you.
God stood with Saint Anthony, the father of the monks. He would say to the demons, “Why are you sending your most powerful to fight someone so weak?” God stood by St Anthony and saved him from all the demons and their devices.
This is how God has always been. God chose Moses who had a stutter and was afraid to speak before Pharaoh. Yet God chose this weak man to speak on His behalf. Moses could voice God’s command to His people without any of his personal opinions. He was a representative of the house of God.
If a person trusts in their own strength, they will also give credit to themselves. God seeks the heart of the one that attributes all their strength to God. Everything is for the glory of God’s Holy Name.
This is why God chooses the weak. God chose Isaiah the Prophet and appeared to
him with the holy Seraphim (Isaiah 8). He was a man that knew his weakness. In
the presence of the Lord, Isaiah says:
“Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips”
He did not take pride in himself, but gives glory to God.
When David felt weak, God lifted him up. When David felt his own power, God stood against him. He punished him and said that he could not build the temple because his hands were unclean.
God does not like to depend on people who think they are powerful. Thinking of one’s self as powerful goes against God’s own nature that is full of humility. When we empty ourselves, just as Christ emptied Himself on the Cross for the sake of humanity, then God will be our source of strength.
Glory be to God, Amen.