Thursday 22nd June
Read 2 Corinthians 12:19
“Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.” (NIVUK)
One can’t help but reflect on the final lines of ‘The Hound of Heaven’ with Paul’s despairing question. He has not been defending himself at all, he has been loving them with all his might so that they may turn and be strengthened!
When God arrives, after the long pursuit, and points out just how stupid and undeserving of any love he is (‘of all man’s clotted clay the dingiest clot’!), God reminds him that despite him barely being worthy of even human love, His divine love is purest and noblest of all. He then realises what God has done in stripping him down…in God’s words…
“…All which I took from thee I did but take,
Not for thy harms,
But just that thou might’st seek it in My arms.
All which thy child’s mistake
Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home:
Rise, clasp My hand, and come!’
Halts by me that footfall:
Is my gloom, after all,
Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly?
‘Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
I am He Whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.’ (The Hound of Heaven, Francis Thompson)
(http://www.houndofheaven.com/poem)
Reading Paul’s heartfelt letter to the Corinthians with this in mind – that it is written out of intense love for them (stubborn as they are), challenges both our perception of Paul and our own generosity of spirit. Even when people push us away? Are we as unrelenting in our love for others? Are we always willing to overlook slights and grievances and ugliness towards us? Are we willing to love others in the way that we ourselves have been loved?
