The “Weakness” of God is Stronger than Satan’s Power

Archdiocese of Washington.org ^ | November 10, 2010 | Msgr. Charles Pope

[Salvation]

The “Weakness” of God is Stronger than Satan’s Power

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

There is a line in the Letter to the Hebrews which reads:

You made [Jesus] for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, subjecting all things under his feet.” In “subjecting” all things (to him), he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death,  (Heb 2:7-9)

Now this text is clear about two things. First, All things are subject to Jesus. Second, we do not presently see or experience that all things are subject to him. Why is this? Fundamentally it is because we experience grave injustice in this world and it seems to us that wickedness and evil are often triumphant. Our sufferings too can discourage us that God has any power at all. Such things do not seem to us to be subject to Christ. Yet the text is clear that all things are under his feet even if it does not seem so.

How can we claim that Christ is triumphant over all when things so often seem the opposite?

Come with me to the cross.  The text says we DO see Jesus crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. So, here we are at the foot of the cross. And what do we see? With our earthly eyes we see complete defeat, a total failure. Jesus who cured the sick, walked on water, and even raised the dead, is now himself dead on a cross. Our fleshly eyes see only failure, and a cruel joke. Can He who saved others not save himself? Satan has won; end of story.

Or is it? You know it is not the end of the story, for on Sunday he rose. So he did defeat Satan. But how? ….Through weakness….. Through death. Even in his “weakness” God is stronger than Satan’s mightiest power. And hence, though we look about this world and see God’s “weakness” we need to understand that even in his weakness he is defeating Satan. Indeed, his greatest works have emerged from the “weakness” of his Son.  An old song, “El Shaddai” says, 

•  
  • Through the years you made it clear,
  • that the time of Christ was near,
  • But couldn’t see what Messiah ought to be.
  • And Though your word contained the plan,
  • they just would not understand,
  • Your most awesome work was done,
  • through the frailty of your son.

We really don’t know what we are talking about – So the text from Hebrews makes it clear that all things are subject to him even though our earthly, eyes do not (will not) see it. Hence you and I may complain of God’s apparent weakness and question the apparent triumph of evil. But we really don’t know what we are talking about. It’s like standing at the foot of the Cross on Good Friday and proclaming total failure. If we were there and did so we would really have no idea what we were saying. Even as we were saying it, the supposedly dead Jesus was down among the dead in Sheol awaking them and turning out the devil’s trophy room. While the Devil was running victory laps around the cross Jesus was robbing him blind of all his “trophies” (the dead)  and preaparing to open heaven for them who had long awaited him. All things are subject to Christ even if they don’t appear so.

And for us who experience our own weakness, here too we know not what we say unless the wisdom of the Cross is applied to it. St. Paul said, For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:10). How are we strong? We are strong because in our weakness we learn to depend on God who is our true strength. Our greatest enemy  is pride. Only our weakness can strip us of this pride so that God can use us and save us. At age forty, Moses was strong, in the prime of his life, educated, passionate and powerful. But he was too strong and in his pride he murdered a man. God couldn’t use him and so caused him to flee to the desert for purifcation. It took forty years. At age 80 Moses was stooped, leaned on a staff and stammered. Now he was weak enough for God to use him. At age 80, God said to Moses, “Go down Moses, tell Pharaoh to let my people go.” For when I am weak, then I am strong for then the power of God rests on me.

I, like you, have my crosses and suffering. A spritual director once told me, “Thank God you’ve got them. Otherwise you’d be too proud to be saved and be heading right to hell. And even on your way God couldn’t use you.” Yes, even our weakness is subject to Christ and used mightily by him.

The Cross is a paradox and we must spend our lives learning to kneel before and heed its wisdom. Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death. God’s “weakness” is stronger than Satan’s power.

[Salvation]

A good reflection about our own weaknesses and sufferings.

As well as taking a look at Christ's sufferings.

[Revolting cat!]

I’m in a crisis center counseling. Most people there are women, most of them suffering from neurosis, a few, men and women, perhaps 20%, in the crises of their lives. Broken. I’ll “graduate” in a few days, that is to say, be thrown out, this is a free 2-3 week program at my HMO, and I’ll be back where I started - in a crisis. The counseling is all pop psychology, as sincere and as shallow as you can get, you have heard it all from the various Deepak Chopras and similar gurus on PBS and on bestseller lists. “Booooring”, as Homer Simpson would wisely comment.

A Catholic writer I recently read mused on the suffering of man, and imagined (a blasphemy!) Christ kneeling at a cross on which a man hung, begging forgiveness.

[Soothesayer]

Hopefully we will find out some time in the next 10 million years.

So far Satan is winning. Big time!

[onedoug]

While there is abundant evidence for God in the universe, there is no evidence whatsoever for Satan before the human mind is capable of abstracting information from it´s environment.

Satan is an excuse for human evil. There is but One God.

[ForGod'sSake]

Not much one can add to these observations except, AMEN. I think typical of the human condition is that in our pride we will ask God or His Son to walk with us until such time we, acquiring the requisite humility, are strong enough to walk with Him. A paradox....you bet.

[Salvation]

In the modern world of today it does seem as though Satan is winning. Keep your eyes and heart on Christ, however. Your goal is eternity with Him.

[Salvation]

I can see Christ praying for us. Also the Blessed Mother praying for us.

[Salvation]

I agree that there is only one God.

Satan, a fallen angel, though, wants to get revenge by aiding the loss of souls that God would want for his own.

I guess that’s what happens when one gets thrown out of heaven. (In no way, do I feel any remorse for the demise of Lucifer!) He is the one who disobeyed God.

[goat granny]

I may be totally wrong, but I was taught that Lucifer's job given to him by God was to watch over earth and man for him...Satan figured he knew better and wanted earth for himself....He is not of this earth and therefore had no legal right to it....Jesus because man and being of the earth make him the legal recipient of earth not satan...the fight between satan and Jesus is for the control of man and earth...Satan loses because Jesus being man is a legal owner of it.....don't remember where I heard or read that, but it seems sensible...

JMHO GG That is why satan fights so hard to degrade humans as he accused man daily before the Throne of God...but he still got kicked out and has no home in heaven and is fighting to have a home on earth to enslave mankind.....He loses...but probably doesn't like to be told that..

[Salvation]

It all amounts to the fact that Lucifer challenged God, correct?

I’ve not heard of the “in charge of the earth” assignment, though.

[Salvation]

Catholic beliefs about the devil

[goat granny]

He wanted (satan) earth and man for himself, he had no legal right, only the assignment from God...When Jesus became man, he was one man that he found he could not accuse before the throne...And being man as was Adam but sinless satan had all of his plans destroyed, but he still has hope of owning earth therefore the last battle will be fought and he loses....

Don't know where or when I heard this, just seems to fit into earth being a battleground between God/& Jesus vs Satan...not saying its from any dogma of any church...may have even read it some book years ago...

It seems to me he challenged Gods orders to watch over the earth, disobeyed, entered the garden and started his lies...therefore he could daily accuse man before the angels as not worthy and sinners, they didn't deserve salvation etc etc...in an on going battle and his own sin of disobedience....for that there is no salvation...puts him in the position of never again being in God's presents and he rages against man and God.... I don't claim this is scriptural in any way. Wish I could remember where I got it from... GG

Am I making myself clear or just sounding like I am babbling...:O) I do that sometimes... GG

[thecodont]

Wish I could remember where I got it from... GG

Paradise Lost by John Milton?

[goat granny]

Satan was never a god, just another one of His creatures, just as man it. But being what is called an Archangel, he is a very powerful being....and if one thinks of it he is also an extraterrestrial as he was not born of the dirt of the earth as man was.

He was created outside of the earth...to protect it (maybe) but not own it...It was created for man.

But my opinion is not to be taken as scriptual, you must read for yourself scripture.. Pop psycho babble is a here today and gone tomorrow philosphy, not spiritual.

There have been heresy since for 2000 years...

Hope I don't sound like pop psycho babble. If I do just ignore me also, but it would be nice to have some of those pop psycologists money. Could do lots of good with it, I'm too old to need it for myself..

Salvation is well versed in Scripture....

[goat granny]

I have no quarrel with anything written there but I do not believe that all illness especially mental illness is the result of satans work on us....Epileptics use to be called possessed, as so with other illness. I think even Jesus made a difference between possession, like the man who said he was legion but other illness's were not related at all to the work of the devil....

I guess I would believe that based on the fact that if a pill can cure an illness, it is due to physical weakness of man. Many illness's are due to our fragile human form.

And many illness's there is no cure for yet....I guess my experience in nursing helps form my opinion...but I did on occasion work on the psych unit...there were a couple of patients that would have more of a spiritual problem than most...there is a close relationship between religious feelings and mental illness. Perhaps those area's of the brain can bump into each other...especially when having people that have had head trauma or strokes...and the difference can be known by the familys.

Over the years I remember some of my patients and I have taken care of thousands. One gentleman had a stroke and it left him unable to say anything except swear. His wife was embarrassed and said he never swore...

I found out if I spent time with him and allowed him to search for the words he wanted, he was slow talking but would make sense and enjoy a conversion...He was a candidate for speech therapy that with much work, was able to return to his old self as his wife said...He went from a medical/surgical floor to a regular floor and was given several kinds of therapy daily, including speech..

I once sat at the nursing station an spent some time talking with one of our neuro surgeon's on brain maping. We know so little about how it works. For instance there is a country/western singer Mel Tillis, that stutters when he talks, but sings without stuttering...those 2 areas of the brain are close, but singing uses a different area than stuttering...I find these things facinating...Hope this makes sense to you.....GG

[goat granny]

TY for the information, even thought I have never read the book...unless I saw it as a move decades ago, that is possible.

When I took a beginning course on Philosophy at Oakland University, we had to study some philosophers, but it was Plato, Hume, Philosophy of art, Decarte/sp.(not in spell check) and one other...Most of my reading was what I called popcorn for the brain, not much thinking involved, Louis L'Amour, Earl Stanley Gardner, Rex Stout, and historical novels when younger...But I will believe you that it could come from that book...cause like I said, I don't know....

Of course I have read the bible many times over the years...

[Dr. Eckleburg]

A good reflection about our own weaknesses and sufferings.

It's a better reflection on the way of the world and who is in charge. From the sermon...

"Yet the text is clear that all things are under his feet even if it does not seem so."

Amen!

[RnMomof7]

There is no scripture to bear witness to that tale..

[Joe 6-pack]

So true. Just yesterday I was flying cross country with a friend and coworker who was curious about my recovery from alcoholism and what had prompted me years ago to seek help. I related my personal story about my "hitting bottom" and how in retrospect it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

The paradox discussed in the article makes perfect sense to me :-)

[RnMomof7]

It's a better reflection on the way of the world and who is in charge. From the sermon...
"Yet the text is clear that all things are under his feet even if it does not seem so."

Amen...One of the sins left with man after the fall is Pride... everything is about US ...NO ! Everything is about HIM ..He is God and we are not. Things we do not like or want are still for HIS glory ... Things that cause us pain, bring Him glory ... When we can grasp that truth, He is glorified and we are comforted..