Third Sunday in Lent (23 March 2025)

Today’s meditation is based on St. Paul’s second epistle to Corinthians, chapter 1, the first eleven verses. Romans made the city of Corinth the capital of Achaia (Southern Greece). During his second missionary journey, Paul established the Christian church in Corinth. When Paul came to know about the issues in the early church, he wrote his first epistle around 55AD, during his third missionary journey to Ephesus. He addressed a few issues with solutions in his first epistle. Paul explained and clarified the issues about divisions and disorder in the church, Christian marriage, Christian freedom, love and charity, public worship and resurrection. When he heard about the other issues like false preaching, false doctrine and groupism, he wrote his second epistle between 55 and 57 AD from Macedonia. He addressed his actions, defending his ministries, defending the collections and defending his authority in the second epistle. 

In the passage from 2 Corinthians 1:1–11, Paul has written about trouble and tribulation to the Corinthians. A few questions come to mind when reading this passage: as Christians, do we pass through troubles and tribulations? What will we gain when passing through tribulation? What should we do when we face tribulation? No one can deny the fact that we have to pass through trials, troubles and tribulations in this world. But we will be benefited by troubles and tribulations when we follow God’s will and guidance through them. I would like to meditate on a what we will experience in our walk through tribulation: 

1. Learn His statutes 

2. Spiritual rejoicing that affliction is for good 

3. Receive comfort and 

4. Comfort others 

Learn His Statutes

David was a young shepherd boy who took care of his flocks in the wilderness. He was humiliated by his brothers when he visited them in the war zone. After Samuel anointed David as king, his life was filled with troubles and tribulations. His father-in-law Saul tried to kill him many times. His own son was behind him to kill him. In Psalm 105:19 he said about Joseph, “Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him”. He felt he was in the same situation in his life, so he said in Psalm 119:71, “ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes”. During times of affliction, David learned the statutes of God. Saul was also in a similar situation. He was a pharisee and was behind the Old Testament laws. But when he was chosen and separated to do God’s will, he became Paul, learned God’s statutes and suffered for Jesus Christ. When we face affliction, it is an opportunity to learn more about the statutes God has laid out for us. 

Spiritual rejoicing that affliction is for good

Jesus preached about spiritual rejoicing in His sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:10–12, He said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven”. Those who suffer in this world for God will rejoice in their eternal life with Jesus.  

• We are very familiar with Daniel’s life. He was put into the lion’s den but God tied up the mouth of the lions. That night, Daniel was comfortable inside the lion’s den but the king couldn’t sleep. The Lord’s name was glorified by Daniel’s suffering.  

• Daniel’s three friends were put into the furnace which was heated seven times more because they refused to worship the king. The king saw four people inside the fire and the name of the LORD God was glorified.  

• Job suffered by losing his wealth, children and health but God restored everything twofold to him.  

Romans 8:35 says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” When we face tribulation for God, God will strengthen us and our spirit will rejoice with God. We can bring many people to God through our witness.

Receive comfort

In 2 Corinthians 1:4 we read, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. Our God is the ultimate comforter. He comforts us when we need comforting. When King David received the comfort from God, he said in Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”. David had a strong faith on God and also received comfort from God. Even when his father-in-law and his son chased to destroy him, David didn’t seek or receive comfort from any man. Instead in Psalm 121, he said, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help”. Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He sacrificed His life to save us and redeemed us with His precious blood. According to John 14:16, Jesus sent the comforter Holy Spirit to us to guide and to be with us forever. When we need comfort, let us look up to our Prince of Peace to comfort us.  

Comfort others

Throughout the Bible we read about many people who were comforted by God, for example, Hagar, Hannah, king Hezekiah. God comforts us so that “we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. When Saul became Apostle Paul, he started preaching the gospel to the gentiles. He suffered for Christ and his life was full of troubles after receiving Jesus. But God comforted him throughout his life and promised him that His grace would be enough for him. Because of the comfort that Paul received from God, He was able to comfort many people based on his experience. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “comfort yourselves together, and edify one another”. God comforts us to comfort others who need comforting.

Today, the whole world is troubled by wars and the rumours of wars, economic instability and hate crimes. We all have something in our mind that is troubling us. How are we facing these situations? Are we panicking? Are we worried or troubled about the uncertainty? Based on Psalm 91, we believe in a living god who is our refuge and fortress who can deliver us from all evil. Let us make the Lord, even the most High, our habitation; then no evil shall befall us, neither shall any plague come nigh our dwelling. We can claim these promises for ourselves and our loved ones.

During this time, let us direct our thoughts and prayers to those who have not experienced this heavenly comfort. Let us remember those who do not know about our Prince of Peace. There are many affected by wars, violence, economical downfall, job losses, health issues, financial struggles, relationship problems, to mention a few. Let us especially uphold in our prayers the leaders of the nations and those who are in responsible positions to take decisions. They all need God’s wisdom and guidance as they deal with the varied situations. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it”. Let us always remember this promise and when faced with troubling situations, let us say, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”

I pray that the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen!