Author: admin

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2 Timothy 2: 8-15

Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:

If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.

Remind people of these things
and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God,
a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting the word of truth without deviation.

The Word of the Lord.

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Imagine receiving a letter from a loved one in prison. They’re writing, not to update you on their status or on what life is like in chains; rather, they’re writing to encourage you to do the very same things that caused them to be imprisoned.

You’re in the prime of your life. You don’t take your own freedom for granted. Nor do you have any desire to live behind bars. And yet, they say to you, “Do not be ashamed of me; rather, do what I have done.”

Who among us would listen?

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Such is the feeling Timothy has in our first reading.

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Paul is literally chained to the arms of a Roman soldier, awaiting his execution. One of his final acts is to write to his “spiritual son,” Timothy, whom he ordained a priest. Paul knows that Timothy is struggling in his faith and ministry, so he writes to encourage him.

First, Paul appeals to his character. Then he reminds Timothy of his roots; both his mother and grandmother were Christians. Then he reminds him of his priestly ordination. And for his closing argument, Paul reminds Timothy that Christ is alive … and in touch. 

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,” he says. “Such is my Gospel for which I am suffering… But the word of God is not chained… Remind people of these things… Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace.”

Paul understood that the burden of the Gospel was laid on his shoulders, but that his time was coming to an end. The yoke of ministry had to be handed on… and Timothy was among the “chosen” to share it.

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Such is the case for each of us today.

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There remain many in our world who’ve never heard the good news of the Gospel. Others have either misheard or misunderstood. People long to know the truth – that God loves us as we are and has saved us. As Paul says, “If Christ is for us, then who can be against us?”

Like Paul and Timothy, are you willing to share the yoke of the Gospel? And, if so, how do you share it – not simply in words – but by the way you live your life?

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Image credits: (1) Truthout (2) Paul in Prison, Rembrandt (3) Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope

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2 Timothy 1: 1-3, 6-12

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.

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.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,
not according to our works
but according to his own design
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the Gospel,
for which I was appointed preacher and Apostle and teacher.
On this account I am suffering these things;
but I am not ashamed,
for I know him in whom I have believed
and am confident that he is able to guard
what has been entrusted to me until that day.

The Word of the Lord.

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On paper, Saint Paul’s accolades are impossible to repeat: 

He saw the Risen Christ; he helped write half of the New Testament; he was an Apostle; the greatest missionary of his age; and a man of exceptional spiritual and physical endurance.

But there’s one thing, in particular, that I find endearing. Although he had no children of his own, Paul had the tender heart of a father. 

He ordained a number of men to the priesthood, including Timothy, whom he refers to as his, “spiritual son.”

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In our first reading, we hear part a letter, which Paul writes to Timothy, revealing several important truths about their relationship.

First, Paul writes to encourage Timothy, who seems to be struggling in his faith. “I remind you,” he says, “to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.”

We don’t know exactly why Timothy was struggling – it could be the effect of Paul’s absence, who’s writing to him from prison. The weight of persecution, or something as simple as dryness in prayer or burn out.

“I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day,” he says.

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Paul continues with tender-hearted affirmation, reminding Timothy that he follows in the footsteps of other faithful Christians, including his own grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice, who came to faith before him.

Their faith, “dwells in you,” he says.

But he concludes by challenging Timothy – as I suppose as any father would – to, “bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.”

Such is the nature of a healthy father-son relationship: there is tenderness and affirmation, but also high standards.

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I’d imagine Paul has the same fatherly love for each of us. While he assures us of his prayers, he also reminds us: “Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel.” 

What might that look like for us today?

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Image credits: (1) Taste Twin Cities (2) Gerald Whitely (3) Guideposts

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2 Peter 3: 12-18

Beloved:
Wait for and hasten the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames
and the elements melted by fire.
But according to his promise
we await new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you await these things,
be eager to be found without spot or blemish before him, at peace.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned,
be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled
and to fall from your own stability.
But grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The Word of the Lord.

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One of the great delights about being a priest is baptizing children. Lately, it seems like I’m doing so every weekend!

Often, when parents tote their newborn children into church, the children are wearing the baptismal gown that either their mother or father wore many years ago.

The gown is always white, some are ornate, and often the gown flows like a snowy river down past the child’s feet at least several inches, if not over a foot.

Before pouring water over the child’s head, I ask either Mom or Dad to hold their child up.

“Do you see? This gown doesn’t fit this baby; it’s way too large; overflowing!”

And that’s precisely the point.

The gown isn’t meant to fit yet because it’s symbolic of the Christian life. Each child – indeed all of us – must learn to how to grow into it.

Baptism is just day one of our Christian journeys.

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In our first reading, Saint Peter is writing to some of the early Christians, some of whom he himself may have baptized.

Although they were received into the Church, they still have to mature in their faith. There are four things, in particular, which Peter advises them to do.

First, live as if the end is near. As he says, “Be eager to be found without spot or blemish before the Lord.”

Second, be at peace – at peace with God, at peace with your neighbor, and at peace with yourself.

Third, guard against all evil; resist falling into temptation.

And, finally, “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.”

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Which of these four things might I need to grow in today – purity, peace, endurance, or knowledge of our Lord?

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Make every effort to grow into the gown, as it were.

Maturing in our faith is part of fulfilling our destiny we began long ago, the moment we were baptized.

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Image credits: (1) Desiring God (2) The Importance of Baptism, AD Today (3) All Free Crochet