Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Wednesday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time
First Published: Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Poor Timothy
Reflection:
The start of Pauls 2nd letter to Timothy would see to indicate that word has reached Paul (who is in Prison, probably in Rome) that he (Timothy) may be getting a bit burnt out. He is sending along an injunction (For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.) and it sounds to me, a little chiding (For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord).
Paul uses himself as an example as he does in most of his epistles. He is very practical in his instruction on how to live the life of an evangelist. He repeats a word in his self description I find interesting. He says; On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed. Notice that he tells Timothy in the first paragraph of his letter not to be ashamed.
I dont know if the word ashamed is the right word but many of us who are Catholic Christians have been at times at least timid if not down right embarrassed to proclaim our faith. It is a difficult thing to do, living ones faith in the secular world. By comparison, it is very easy to just drop the attempt and work at fitting in with the rest of our society. How much easier it is to ignore the poor saying, as we have all heard from some purported Christians; they should work harder! Or we should laugh at the less fortunate when jokes are made about those who are disabled or disfigured.
Yes, it is not a comfortable place to be, Christian in an un-Christ-like society. But that is what Paul calls to us from this part of scripture. We know it is the right thing to do, but do we have the courage?
In the very next verses of the letter, we hear Paul tell Timothy:
Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us. (2 Tim 1 13-14)
Let us vow to be strong in faith and the Holy Spirit today that we may be the guardians of that trust. Pax
Readings for Wednesday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time
First Published: Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Poor Timothy
Reflection:
The start of Pauls 2nd letter to Timothy would see to indicate that word has reached Paul (who is in Prison, probably in Rome) that he (Timothy) may be getting a bit burnt out. He is sending along an injunction (For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.) and it sounds to me, a little chiding (For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord).
Paul uses himself as an example as he does in most of his epistles. He is very practical in his instruction on how to live the life of an evangelist. He repeats a word in his self description I find interesting. He says; On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed. Notice that he tells Timothy in the first paragraph of his letter not to be ashamed.
I dont know if the word ashamed is the right word but many of us who are Catholic Christians have been at times at least timid if not down right embarrassed to proclaim our faith. It is a difficult thing to do, living ones faith in the secular world. By comparison, it is very easy to just drop the attempt and work at fitting in with the rest of our society. How much easier it is to ignore the poor saying, as we have all heard from some purported Christians; they should work harder! Or we should laugh at the less fortunate when jokes are made about those who are disabled or disfigured.
Yes, it is not a comfortable place to be, Christian in an un-Christ-like society. But that is what Paul calls to us from this part of scripture. We know it is the right thing to do, but do we have the courage?
In the very next verses of the letter, we hear Paul tell Timothy:
Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Guard this rich trust with the help of the holy Spirit that dwells within us. (2 Tim 1 13-14)
Let us vow to be strong in faith and the Holy Spirit today that we may be the guardians of that trust. Pax
posted by Deacon Jim | 1:22 AM
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