A Thorn in the Flesh - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon

This is, in a nutshell, why I’m Catholic. No other faith deals with suffering so authentically and completely.

St. Teresa of Avila has a similar story to St. Paul's. Once when she asked God why he allowed her to suffer public humiliation, He told her "That's how I treat my friends." Her reply is immortalized: "No wonder you have so few."

"By our own suffering we participate in the salvation of the Cross." - BISHOP ROBERT BARRON

Thank you, thank you thank you Bishop for addressing SUFFERING! So many, myself included, are suffering. I'm isolated and afflicted, but this allows me to pray FOR HOURS for all who are suffering. Please continue often to address suffering with the scriptures, your wisdom, and encouragement. God bless you. ❤

I can’t even put into words how much this homily affected me in such a profound way. It was comforting, peace giving, and provided cleansing tears. Thank you Bishop Barron.

Bishop,I've suffered from neuropathy,and arthritis,I've cried out to GOD and I feel his love at times and other times I can't feel that love ,but my belief is strong!Bishop your homilies are incisive and thebest!!

One of your very best homilies, Bishop Barron. Thank you for delving into the inexplicable role which human suffering plays in its connection with Our Savior's Passion, Death, and Resurrection. It's astonishing to hear the pronouncements of observers ( oftentimes family and friends) toward a person coping with personal tragedy, the loss of children, debilitating disease, mental illness in the family. The common conclusion of others is, "You must have done something sinful, and you're being punished by God." Remnants of the Book of Job. Your teaching opens the door to undersranding God's assignment for human suffering which He measures carefully as He draws the person closer to Himself. The result is a visible change and finally, the ability to trust in God. Once again, grateful thanks for giving us your insight on a topic which is seldom so thoroughly understood.

If you don't know suffering, you can't understand compassion and mercy.

Suffering is the one thread that unites all of humanity, past, present and future. If you haven’t suffered yet, you will. When it happens, fall forward, towards the cross.

Thank you lord for the thorns in my flesh and my weakness ,for it keeps me humble now I only trust in you.

“The thorn in the flesh brings us back to God”. Thanks Bishop for this important reminder.

Thank you Bishop Barron for reminding us to focus on Christ in our sufferings. Before my husband passed from cancer he told me to pray and not to cry. It’s the best tool.

It is amazing how bishop Barron is able to preach the heart of the Christian faith week after week. I can feel the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through his words, even while I am not Roman Catholic at all.

Offering our sufferings/afflictions to CHRIST on the cross. Amen.

This was a masterclass. May God richly bless Bishop Barron and his ministry.

Thank you, Bishop Barron for teaching us about “a thorn in the flesh” from St. Paul’s Letter. The emphasis on suffering and humility and drawing nearer to Jesus resonates with me in a new way for reflection.🕊⛪️🙏🏼

Oh my goodness! You spoke to my heart Bishop Barron. I loved this, so beautiful! Thank you my Lord for loving me!!

My son's and my suffering has made us fall into the loving arms of God our Lord...please God keep loving us!

Dear Good Bishop, I know this in a deeply personal way. I have come to understand it precisely because God has not taken it away from me. And in that suffering and frustration, I am led away from my pride, and I can turn it all into powerful prayer for others, for the Church. I have come to realize that, ultimately, the only prayer becomes, as Jesus said, "not my will, but Thy Will be done". This, even if He asks of me further suffering which I might deem unbearable, but during which His Grace is sufficient. Whatever He needs me to suffer, for the most good, is what I accept. ❤

God bless you, Bishop Barron, as you offer the salvation of Christ to all with open hearts and minds...one glorious, illuminating sermon at a time. 💙🙏