“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.''- 2 Corinthians 10:10-18
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Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 10:10-18, focus verse 17-18. Reflecting on St Paul's words who writes of boasting in the LORD and warning of the dangers of boasting in our own achievements.
In a beautiful general audience on 6th March 2024, Pope Francis also gave a good catechesis on Vices & Virtues, specifically, on the vice of pride (General Audience of 6 March 2024 - Pope Francis). In that beautiful teaching, our (late) Pope warned about the dangers of human pride, and how it broke the intimacy of our first ancestors with God, when they had succumbed to the tempter’s lie, “when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God” (Gn 3:5). Even our first Pope, St. Peter had succumbed to the siren call of human ego and pride when he boasted in the Presence of our LORD, “Even if everyone forsakes you, I will not!” (cf. Mt 26:33), only to be overcome with remorse in the latter gospel accounts of Christ’s Arrest where Jesus’s prediction that he would deny the LORD 3 times before the rooster crows was ultimately fulfilled. (Luk 22:57-62)
However, there’s hope for humanity, as Pope Francis said in the same address, that Salvation comes through humility, the true remedy for every act of pride. In the Magnificat, Mary sings of the God who by his power scatters the proud in the sick thoughts of their hearts. It is useless to steal anything from God, as the proud hope to do, because after all he wants to give us everything. This is why the apostle James, to his community wounded by infighting originating in pride, writes, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
St. John also wrote about God’s divine remedy for our sinful human hearts in 1 John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Before I close this short reflection, let us also reflect on the humility of our LORD Jesus, who though being God, had humbled Himself, in human form, was obedient to our Father-in-Heaven to the point of death-even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:3-8, NRSVCE
3
Do nothing from selfish ambition
or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each
of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let
the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the
form of God, did not regard equality with God that as something to be
exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in
human likeness. And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became
obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
May you enjoy also this short worship song, In Christ Alone, and my
prayer that our boast in life ever be in Christ and Christ alone.
In Christ Alone
[Verse 1]
In Christ alone my hope is
found
He is my light, my strength, my
song
This cornerstone, this solid
ground
Firm through the fiercest
drought and storm
What heights of love, what
depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when
strivings cease
My comforter, my all in
all
Here, in the love of Christ, I
stand
[Verse 2]
In Christ alone, who took on
flesh
Fullness of God in helpless
babe
This gift of love and
righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to
save
'Til on that cross, as Jesus
died
The wrath of God was
satisfied
For every sin, on Him, was
laid
Here, in the death of Christ, I
live
[Verse 3]
There in the ground, His body
lay
Light of the world, by darkness,
slain
Then bursting forth in glorious
day
Up from the grave, He rose
again
And as He stands in
victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on
me
For I am His and He is
mine
Bought with the precious blood
of Christ
[Verse 4]
No guilt in life, no fear in
death
This is the power of Christ in
me
From life's first cry to final
breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of Hell, no scheme of
man
Can ever pluck me from His
hand
'Til He returns or calls me
home
Here, in the power of Christ,
I'll stand
[Ending]
No power of Hell, no scheme of
man
Can ever pluck me from His
hand
'Til He returns or calls me
home
Here, in the power of Christ,
I'll stand
Words and Music by Keith Getty
and Stuart Townend © 2002 Thankyou Music (PRS) / Adm. worldwide at
CaptiolCMGPublishing.com, excluding Europe which is adm. by IntegrityMusic.com
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/m_063OI38RQ?si=cZbNpMEv6btekIvB
Reflection on 2 Corinthians 10:10-18 by Chris Tan
