+ Saints Timothy and Titus were confreres of St. Paul, whom
he appointed as bishops in the Christian communities that he founded in Ephesus
and Crete. Each corresponded with Paul and with their people by writing letters,
some of which are now canonical, i.e. part of New Testament scripture. In
reading the letters we see how the early church with its various ministries
functions and outreaches started to take root, grow and develop. They both died
in the late first century.
Our
first reading today is a sample of the correspondence between St.
Paul and Timothy. He is encouraging his “son in the ministry” to stir into flame the gift of God that you
have through the imposition of my hands. 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, but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel
with the strength that comes from God.
This
very letter could be written by Pope Francis to the
bishops of the world, and the bishops to all of their priests, and the priests
to all of their ministers: the pagan secularism of the world (which is the same
as the heathenism of the first century) is a major threat to all of
civilization – and to the establishment of God’s reign – with the strength that comes from God, and God alone, we can and
must stir up the passion for evangelization that was given by the Holy
Spirit on the day of our baptisms, confirmations and ordinations, because the Lord sends us to bring glad tidings to
the poor and to proclaim liberty to captives.
The
Kingdom of God is at hand for those who believe; may more and more
come to believe by our powerful words and our self-less example!
Proclaim
God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations!
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