Wednesday 3 June

Today is Wednesday the 3 June, in the Ninth Week of Ordinary Time.    

The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Have Mercy on Me’.  

Today’s reading is from the Second Letter to Timothy.  

2 Tim 1:1-3, 6-9a  [JB]

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.   Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers. That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you.  God's gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control.    So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy - not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace.

‘Fan into a flame the gift that God g ave you’:  what gift are you aware of that God has given you, that needs to be fanned into a flame, kindled, nurtured…. ?  Can you ask God for help with this?  

The Spirit of Timidity… and the Spirit of Power, Love and Self-Control:  do you recognise those different spirits?  Do you see them in yourself?  

As you listen to the reading again, notice which words or phrases strike you and how you respond in your mind and heart.

Talk to God about what has struck you in this reading and how it affects your life and your relationships.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.