Saints Timothy and Titus

Today is Tuesday the 26 January, the feast of Saints Timothy and Titus.

The community of Taizé sing: Tui amoris ignem.  Let me make these words my prayer, as I listen.  ‘Holy Spirit, come to us.  Kindle in us the fire of your love.’

Today’s reading is from the second letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:1-8

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did —when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God...

Paul, who is suffering in prison for the sake of the Gospel,  greets Timothy in his letter with the words: ‘Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Can you receive these words today as if being spoken personally to you? What does it mean to hear these words today?

Paul constantly remembers Timothy in his prayers, grateful for his tears and sincere faith. He also remembers Timothy’s Grandmother Eunice and Mother, Lois and their example of faith.  Who are the people in your life, in your history, who have shown sincere faith? Who has been an example to you? Spend a moment thanking God for them.

Listen to the reading again and notice what stays with you….

‘I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you’ Are you aware of a gift within you, that needs to be rekindled? Can you, like Paul, rely on the power of God to help you use this gift? Talk to God about this now as we move towards the end of this prayer time…

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