Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Timothy and Titus. It is a special day for my parish, as I attend St. Timothy Parish. Because it is a shared feast day, we have an option of two first readings, one from 2 Timothy and one from Titus. I’d like to concentrate today on the reading from 2 Timothy. Our Gospel reading for today is from Luke 10, the story of Jesus sending out the seventy-two.
St. Paul tells Timothy in his second letter to him, “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.” Interesting words…stir into flame the gift of God that you have. It makes one wonder if the gift of God had turned into an ember in St. Timothy’s life. I rather doubt that. But I think that fire for God can always burn more brightly in our lives.
The Spirit is manifested in each of us differently, uniquely. While one person might be very charismatic and gregarious, another might be a quiet, humble servant. But the gift of God in each of them could be burning just as brightly. So, how about you? How is your flame? Is it just an ember? Has your pilot light gone out? Or are you on fire with the Spirit? I hope it is the latter, no matter how you express it.
Father, we thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit, given to us in so many ways. May we stir that gift into flame today, as we burn with love for you. Amen.
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