9th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 5th June 2024 – 2 Tim 1, 1-13. 6-12; Mk 12,18-27
Rekindled with God’s Gifts
In the first reading, Paul writes to Timothy exhorting him to “rekindle the gift of God” that had been given to him when Paul laid his hands on him. Paul encourages him to expand on the spiritual gifts given to him, because Timothy was comparatively young still and perhaps was content in his role of serving alongside Paul and did not prefer to be an outspoken leader of a large moment of Christians. Due to lack of Timothy’s confidence Paul urged him to be brave and to stand strong. In fact, Timothy is to expect some measure of hardship in preaching the Gospel. We need strength and courage, coupled with wisdom, if we are to be effective in sharing the Gospel with others. Paul highlights, then, rather than fear, God had given us a spirit or attitude of ‘power, love and self-control’. The power is an inner strength and not the kind of power that dominates others. Love is the great desire to work for the well-being of others, especially to bring them to become aware of and to respond to the love of God in Jesus Christ. Self-control is not the suppression of desires, but rather a passion to do what is good and right. These gifts of the Spirit can lie dormant in us unless we exercise it regularly and make it an active element in our lives. Failing to use the Spirit’s gifts is something we are all in constant danger of doing.
