St. Paul and St. Peter

Today is the feast day of the two pillars of the Church.  Since Paul is my patron, let me concentrate on him.  One passage I like a lot and one of his most powerful, a terrific example of classic rhetoric, is in his Second Letter to the Corinthians. He has been criticized by some other Christian preachers for being too weak. Beginning in chapter 11, verse 21 he boasts of all that he has done, suffering, weakness, ecstatic visions,  "a thorn against his flesh." 
Of the last he says that he pleaded with Christ to take it away, but Christ told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (12:9)  Paul answers his critics, "That is why I am glad of weaknesses, insults, constraints, persecutions and distress for Christ's sake.  For it is when I am weak that I am strong."
As we realize and accept our weaknesses God's grace can work better in us.
The picture is my favorite corner in the house.  I just got up from there to write here what I was thinking about St. Paul.