I love the gratitude and thanksgiving that Paul expresses near the beginning of his second letter to Timothy, as he writes: “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.” It is easy to think about the things that are wrong in our lives and wrong in the world. Yet, in the midst of all the challenges and struggles in the world today, we have a lot for which we can be grateful.
St Ignatius of Loyola thought that being grateful and counting our blessings was foundational to our life of faith as disciples of Christ. In his examen reviewing his day, he always gave thanks for the way God was present to him in his day. Yesterday, in our diocesan finance counsel meeting, I gave thanks for Bishop Kopacz and all the members of our finance council who are working hard to help our Diocese be on a firm financial footing. It is not easy balancing the finances of our Diocese, but all of these men and women are dedicated to helping us in this way.
Paul also tells Timothy to stir into flame the gift of God that has been given to him, to embrace the powers of love and self-control. It is not easy sometimes using our God-given gifts, is it? Last weekend, we celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit in our lives of faith. A flame is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it is only through the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we can truly stir into flame these gifts that God has given us.
Timothy is lucky to have someone like Paul in his life, leading him and guiding him in his life of faith. Like Timothy, we need a community of faith as well to help us and support us and guide us. Our reading from Mark’s Gospel today tells us that our God is a God of the living. May we feel the God of life breathing new life in us today.
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