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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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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

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2 Peter 1: 2-7

Beloved:
May grace and peace be yours in abundance
through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has bestowed on us
everything that makes for life and devotion,
through the knowledge of him
who called us by his own glory and power.
Through these, he has bestowed on us
the precious and very great promises,
so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature,
after escaping from the corruption that is in the world
because of evil desire.
For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,
virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control,
self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion,
devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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When do you sing out loud?

Perhaps at a concert, or on a hot summer day, driving in the car alone – windows down, hair blowing in the wind, not a care in the world.

To me, singing’s a bit like whistling – it’s hard to do when your sad, but easy when you’re happy.

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Today we celebrate the feast of Charles Lwanga and his companions, who sang to God during the darkest and final hour of their lives.

By the end of the 19^th century, Catholicism was spreading like wildfire throughout Africa. But whenever the Church begins to flourish, it often meets resistance. 

Such was the case in in Uganda.

The king didn’t pay any attention this new religious movement budding beneath his throne, until he was confronted directly by Christ’s teachings. 

One day, Charles Lawanga told the king that he was living a life of immorality and debauchery – that his actions offended the Lord and that he should repent.

But the king became so enraged that he decided to kill Charles and his companions, forcing them to march into the woods for two long days, before burning them on wooden stakes.

As they were being led to their death, Charles and his companions sang songs to God – a sign of how deeply rooted their faith in Christ had become.

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As the old Swedish proverb reminds us, “Those who wish to sing always find a song.”

It’s not only true on good days, while jamming out a concert or cruising down the highway, but even in the darkest hour of our lives.

We can always sing of glory because of Him, who first loved us and gave himself for us.

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