01 Oct Tuesday

Paul reminds Timothy of his reception of the tradition and of his authority for ministry through the imposition of hands. “To stir into flame” is literally “to raise up living fire”, and the “gift” is literally in English “charisma”, same as in Greek. It is a strong sentence, and the reminder comes through the memory of the laying on of hands. The passage forms a Biblical backdrop for the ordination prayer today.

The charism is to give witness with power and love. We often don’t think of power and love at the same time or as connected. This strength come from God, because there will be hardships when one is a disciple in ministry. In other words not every one will be accepting.

Paul actually alludes to the tradition, the holding fast to thekerygma, three times in this short passage. At the last instance, he calls the kerygma “sound words” and a “rich trust,” which is more literally “beautiful” what is entrusted to Timothy’s care, so “trust” in the sense of a bank account of stewardship. This is the concept that ties into the Gospel at the great supper thematically of stewardship and discipleship and all of Jesus talk of wealth. The Gospel is true wealth.

the Gospel cannot just be honored and reverenced but put into practice in one’s life. We may be good liturgically about the first part, but less so as Catholics about the second, because this means care of the poor, the refugee, the stranger. These are themes from the first reading from Habakkuk. That’s the link.