(Optional Memorial for Saint Norbert, Bishop)
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| “St. Paul Imposes Hands Upon St. Timothy” Artist and Date UNKNOWN |
Commentary:
This selection contains the formal beginning of the Second Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy. Following the formula address, the Apostle exhorts his former student and traveling companion to be forthright, even outspoken in proclaiming the faith (“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control”).
There is a clear reference that St. Timothy was ordained for this task by St. Paul as is shown by his statement: “…the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” This passage is also foundational to the understanding that there is an indelible change imparted by the reception of Holy Orders. The Apostle concludes his introduction, summarizing the call they have both received, and his faith in salvation through Christ (important here because he (St. Paul) is in prison and his physical well-being is in question).
CCC: 2 Tm 1:3 1794; 2 Tm 1:6 1577, 1590; 2 Tm 1:8 2471, 2506; 2 Tm 1:9-10 257, 1021; 2 Tm 1:12-14 84; 2 Tm 1:12 149
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R. (1b) To you, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.
Psalm 123 is an individual lament. In these strophes we hear the prayer of the psalmist who expresses faith in God’s love and compassion.
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The Sadducees are approaching Jesus, in this passage, with a twofold attack against his teaching on the resurrection (Sadducees, as a group, do not hold with the theology of resurrection of the dead). First they ask Jesus to solve the puzzle of to whom the widow of seven husbands would be married in heaven. (It is likely this example was taken from Tobit 3:8.) Jesus chides them for their lack of understanding, telling them that life in the Kingdom of Heaven transcends life in the body. He then goes further, attacking their disbelief in the resurrection by quoting Exodus 3; 6, telling them the Father is the God of the living not the dead.
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Reflection:
St. Paul challenges us as he addresses his second letter to St. Timothy. Notice, in the language employed, he twice uses the word “ashamed.” The first time he tells St. Timothy directly: “…do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,” and a second time, using himself as an example: “On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed…” It is clear that he feels it is necessary to tell his student and disciple that the proper social view of Timothy consorting with one who is arrested and in jail (Paul) must not be a source of shame. He is to remember that it is Christ they both serve, and it is his work they must continue.
This message, although it should not in any way be considered an analogy, could be addressed to the religious sisters whose leaderships are members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). They have recently been under a cloud because of the social positions adopted by this body which were opposed to the Church’s teaching, and this has caused great scandal in the Church. The Church had seen fit to apply new oversight to this group, and now the message of St. Paul must shine on them. Their mission, like that of St. Timothy, is to throw off shame and proclaim Christ in the world.
This example was used intentionally to surface thoughts by some that might be uncharitable. Some might believe that what was done in Christ’s name by a small group should have evoked more drastic action. It is the same with how the world generally sees the actions of Church leaders who have exercised poor judgment in the handling of sexual abuse issues, also causing great scandal and even more pain. Whether for good or ill, Christ’s message of forgiveness tempers all decisions made by his servants who tend to err on the side of love, rather than on the side of mistrust and hatred.
For us too, the shame of these scandals can cause us to pull back from proclaiming our identities in the world. Have these very public secular events caused us to shrink from a public witness to our faith? Have we said to ourselves: “Perhaps it will be better if I just withdraw from the public spotlight for a while until these issues are forgotten by the public at large?” Now is the time, as the Apostle says, to “stir into flame the gift of God.” Let the call of the pious and unchurched for justice be met with our assent, and our call for forgiveness as well. Christ is our banner and we must not forget.
Our friend, St. Paul, has good words of encouragement for us today. It is a difficult world we face, and we pray for the strength to carry the word to it through our voices and our actions. We need all the prayers of the saints today as we take the call of Christ forward.
Pax
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