Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.
For this reason, I remind you 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, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.
The Word of the Lord.
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A recent study from MIT found that the average human eye can detect a candle flame flickering in the dark from over a mile and a half away.
Imagine that. One tiny flame can break through nearly 9,000 feet of darkness.
That is the type of power that Christians have when active in this world. We can break through social, emotional, and spiritual darkness.
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Consider what Saint Paul is doing for Timothy, his “spiritual son,” in our first reading.
We don’t know the precise reason why, but Timothy is struggling, both in his ministry and in his faith.
Spreading the Gospel in the first century was hard, often dangerous, work. The fact that Paul’s writing to Timothy from prison reiterates that.
But Paul affirms him, reminding Timothy that sharing the Gospel is not only an honor and a privilege, but also a responsibility. It’s something that every Christian is called to do.
Tradition tells us that Timothy continued his priestly ministry for nearly four more decades until he himself was martyred in the year 97 AD.
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Who knows what would’ve happened had Timothy not received such encouragement from Paul. But that one letter was like one little flame, bringing light to a young minister when he was living in difficulty.
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That’s something we can all do today – be like Saint Paul and bring light to someone who may need it.
A phone call. A handwritten letter. A word of affirmation. A text.
Simple things that might make a difference for a few seconds, a few minutes, or like Paul’s Letter to Timothy, for years to come.
The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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This Gospel passage raises several questions.
For example, “How can Jesus have ‘brothers and sisters’ if Mary remained a virgin throughout her life?”
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Some ancient languages like Hebrew and Aramaic (the language which Jesus spoke) did not have words to describe extended family. So, the “brothers and sisters” whom Jesus is referring to could be his cousins.
Another possibility is that Jesus had step-siblings. While we are not certain, some Christians like Saint Jerome believed that Joseph might’ve had children from a previous marriage.
In either case, the Acts of the Apostles report these “brothers and sisters” as being active members in the early Church. (Acts 1:14)
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An even deeper question is, “How can we claim to be Jesus’ mother, or sister, or brother if we are not his cousins or step siblings ?”
Jesus came to establish a new family – a heavenly family – which transcends flesh and blood; it includes anyone who does the will of God. Hence, we are all his brothers and sisters.
It sounds odd, but in a sense we also become “mother” to Jesus whenever we bring his love into the world. As Teresa of Avila once wrote, “God has no hands and feet but yours.”
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How does this Gospel passage lead me to see my neighbor differently?
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May we embrace all people as members of the same family and love each other accordingly.
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Image credits: (1) theidolbabbler.com, WordPress (2) World Mission Society Church of God (3) Eternal Reunion, Ken Turner
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled: Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Falling in love turns your world upside down, doesn’t it?
All of a sudden, someone else holds tremendous influence, even power, over you. Everything about that person is enchanting. The way they walk, the way they talk, why they like one thing but not another.
There’s an innocence to it all.
Sometimes that love leads to marriage.
But your wedding day is only the beginning. There are years, if not decades, of commitment ahead, including highs and lows, bursts of excitement and moments of disappointment.
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The same is true in our journey of faith.
We don’t fully commit ourselves to the Lord overnight; it takes a lifetime to love and fully surrender our lives to Jesus.
Consider four moments in the life of Saint Peter.
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In today’s Gospel, Peter receives the call. Jesus, this miraculous healer, invites him to become his disciple. So, he drops his nets and follows Jesus.
Maybe that’s some of us – we’re either new to the faith or have experienced a re-awakening. We’re eager to drop our nets and follow the Lord knowing this is just the beginning. There may be years, if not decades, ahead.
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Shortly after dropping his nets by the sea, Peter sinks into the very same waters.
Do you remember what happens the first night that he and the other disciples are without Jesus?
They are crossing the Sea of Galilee, when suddenly a large storm materializes, nearly toppling their boat!
When Jesus finally comes to their rescue, he invites Peter to step out onto the water. As soon as his feet touch the waves, Peter starts sinking, crying out, “Master, do you not care that we’re drowning?”
This may be the first time Peter’s faith is tested.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’ve dropped our nets and have chosen to follow the Lord, but now feel caught in the middle of a storm, crying out, “Master, do you not care that I’m drowning?”
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After calming the storm, Jesus challenges his disciples by asking, “Who do you say that I am?”
All remain silent, except Peter, who pipes up: “You are the Christ! The Son of the living God!” He’s seen enough and is convinced, Jesus is Lord.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’ve survived a storm or two. Our doubt has given way to stronger faith. Humbly, we sing of “amazing grace.”
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Still, the same Peter who cries out, “You are the Christ!” will soon deny ever knowing Jesus.
On the last night of his life on earth, Jesus is betrayed by Judas, then arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Peter, curious to know what will happen, follows Jesus at a distance. As Jesus is led into the high priest’s court to stand trial, Peter remains outside the gates warming his hands by a fire.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’ve dropped our nets to follow Jesus, but we’re following at a comfortable distance.
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Peter’s path sounds like the story of four different men. The fisherman who drops his nets by the Sea of Galilee later sinks into the very same waters.
The person who proclaims that Jesus is Lord later denies ever knowing him, fearing that being associated with Jesus will cost him his life.
And, eventually, it does.
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Yes, Peter dies like his Master, nailed to a cross.
Feeling unworthy of leaving this world as Jesus did, he asks his executioners for one final wish: to turn him upside down.
There, in the heart of Rome – in the center of worldly power – Peter finally sees the world like a man in love – upside down, right side up.
Those feet that once sank into the stormy Sea of Galilee now face the heavens. His hands, once warmed by a fire, are thrown open in surrender.
After years of stumbling, sinking, and standing back up, Peter loves Jesus with all of his heart, mind, soul, and body.
Such faith took a lifetime for him to develop. But that’s all that mattered in the end: Peter loved his Lord.
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Where am I on my journey of faith?
Am I’m ready to drop my nets? Am I sinking into stormy waters? Am I’m following the Lord at a comfortable distance?
Am I in love?
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No matter where we are on the journey, our vision statement reminds us that we are, “All generations journeying together with Jesus to satisfy our hungry hearts. Come and see!”
Saint Peter pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) Saint Peter, Peter Paul Rubens (2) Christ Appearing to Peter on Via Appia, Caracci (3) Crucifixion of Saint Peter, Caravaggio
