Daily Retreat 06/04/08
2008 Jun 4 Wed: Ordinary Weekday
2 Tm 1: 1-3. 6-12/ Ps 122(123): 1b-2ab. 2cdef/ Mk 12: 18-27
From today’s readings: “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.... To You, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.... Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Spirit of power and love and self-control
For the rest of this week, the first reading will be from Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Since this is the first opportunity we’ve had in a awhile for the lectionary to dwell on a shorter book of the Bible, I want to remind you of the advantage of reading the whole letter through, and then re-reading it as the lectionary goes through the chapters.
The opening is particularly warm, as Paul addresses himself to his “dear child” Timothy, urging him to “stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands” (a reference to Timothy’s ordination by Paul). This gift is no “spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control,” all three of which are essential in living out Timothy’s vocation.
But, as the eternal antidote against pride, Paul reminds Timothy that God “saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works, but according to His own design.” As Christians, we must never tire of meditating on this insight: God calls us to Himself in holiness on His own initiative, not because it’s something we’ve earned or merited! That does not deny that actions are meritorious insofar as they are faithful responses to God’s call, but any and all merit comes after God’s gratuitous grace, and so the personal merit can never “earn” salvation on it own.
2 Tm 1: 1-3. 6-12/ Ps 122(123): 1b-2ab. 2cdef/ Mk 12: 18-27
From today’s readings: “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.... To You, O Lord, I lift up my eyes.... Are you not misled because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Spirit of power and love and self-control
For the rest of this week, the first reading will be from Paul’s second letter to Timothy. Since this is the first opportunity we’ve had in a awhile for the lectionary to dwell on a shorter book of the Bible, I want to remind you of the advantage of reading the whole letter through, and then re-reading it as the lectionary goes through the chapters.
The opening is particularly warm, as Paul addresses himself to his “dear child” Timothy, urging him to “stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands” (a reference to Timothy’s ordination by Paul). This gift is no “spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control,” all three of which are essential in living out Timothy’s vocation.
But, as the eternal antidote against pride, Paul reminds Timothy that God “saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works, but according to His own design.” As Christians, we must never tire of meditating on this insight: God calls us to Himself in holiness on His own initiative, not because it’s something we’ve earned or merited! That does not deny that actions are meritorious insofar as they are faithful responses to God’s call, but any and all merit comes after God’s gratuitous grace, and so the personal merit can never “earn” salvation on it own.
posted by FrPitstick | 6/03/2008
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