If we are open to learning, God will teach us a lot through sickness, Fr. Matthew Fasnacht, of St Mary's Catholic Church in Lake City, said in the Sept. 27 bulletin.

"As you are probably aware, I have been pretty sick for the last two weeks," Fasnacht said in the bulletin. "I feel good now, thanks to God. The Lord can teach us a lot through sickness if we are open to learn. I was made much more aware of my lack of control in life and my powerlessness through my illness."

In Scripture, God gave St. Paul a "thorn in the flesh," Fasnacht said. The Lord gave this to St. Paul to keep him humble. Suffering helped balance the revelations that God had given to St. Paul.

"The Lord refused to heal him of it because it was bringing about a great spiritual benefit for St. Paul," Fr. Fasnacht said. "If God is good, why would he allow someone to suffer like that? God’s answer to this question is power is made perfect in weakness.' Weakness, trials and sufferings help us a lot spiritually if we let God teach us through them: 'for when I am weak, then I am strong.'"