Readings: 2 Timothy 3:10-17, Ps. 119:157, 160, 161, 165, 166, 168, Mark 12:35-37
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which can instruct you for salvation.’” (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
In today’s first reading, St. Paul, writing to Timothy from prison, notes: “Anyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12). In this letter, St. Paul recalls his painful experiences for the sake of preaching the Gospel. “You have observed my… persecutions, my sufferings which befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them, the Lord rescued me.”
As the book of Sirach would say: “My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptation.” (Sirach 2:1). Some translations would say: “prepare yourself for an ordeal.” As much as serving God is the greatest life there can ever be, the truth is that as Jesus said: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).
Being a Christian has never and will never be easy. Living out the dictates of our Christian calling requires a lot of personal sacrifices, because it is not the popular way of the world, and it attracts the world’s hatred. “Because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19).
If we must be good Christians, we cannot avoid the tough, difficult path; we cannot avoid suffering and pain. “For the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Regardless of all that we have to suffer, we must never forget that even though for God’s sake, “we are being killed all the day long; regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, … in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:36-37). God is our Good Shepherd who would never forsake His flock. (Psalm 23)
From the above quotations, you can already see that, as Christians, moving on in such a troubled world as ours demands that we set our feet firmly in the Scriptures. Hence, in admonishing Timothy, St. Paul tells him never to forget or underplay the importance of Sacred Scripture.
The best approach to Scriptures is to remember that “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable…” As my Scriptures teacher, Sr. Mary Jerome Obiora, would say: “Read the Bible on your knees.” Read it not as any book but as God speaking to you. If you think that God is silent in all these things happening around us today, it is simply because you have stopped reading the Bible.
St. Paul says the Bible is for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, and that it makes us complete and equipped for good works. A Christian who does not read the Bible is incomplete; he soon gives up and falls apart when challenges arise.
Today, we celebrate St. Boniface. He was an Englishman who, desiring to preach the Gospel in a foreign land, travelled to Mainz, Germany, where he strenuously proclaimed Jesus. He was eventually made a Bishop. In his later years, he worked with King Pepin and set out to evangelise Friesland (part of modern Holland), where he was murdered on 5 June 754. He is buried at Fulda, near Frankfurt, in the monastery he founded and is honoured as the apostle of Germany.
Let us pray: May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord, that we may firmly hold the faith he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood and confidently profess it by our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Boniface, Bishop, Martyr, Liturgical Colour: Red. Bible Study: 2 Timothy 3:10-17, Ps. 119:157, 160, 161, 165, 166, 168, Mark 12:35-37)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu