As we approach Lent, the Church connected this Sunday to Paul's teaching in 2 Corinthians 11. The Collect (Prayer) for Sexagesima Sunday: O Lord God, who sees that we put our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We look back to men like Paul who faced adversities from without and within and we may be tempted to feel rejection or self-pity or even comparing ourselves with others (listening to the accusations of the enemy). But let us not misinterpret our sufferings (none of us like Paul...) and be drawn deeper into Jesus that we embrace the spirituality of the cross.