Over the past
few weeks, we have read selections from the letters St. Paul sent to Timothy
while Paul was in Prison. This morning,
we turn to the 2nd letter to Timothy. Paul again writes to Timothy
from his cell in a Roman prison. As you listen to his words, imagine how lonely
he would have felt – far away from his friends and fellow Christians, isolated
and alone. He was suffering, yet kept his faith in God and in the teachings and
work of Jesus. Here his words as they are penned in 2nd Timothy,
chapter 1, verses 1 through 14:
Proclamation of the Scripture 2 Timothy 1:1-14
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in
keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear
conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my
prayers.
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be
filled with joy.
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your
grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives
in you also.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which
is in you through the laying on of my hands.
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us
power, love and self-discipline.
So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his
prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the
power of God.
He has saved us and
called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but
because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of
time,
but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior,
Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel.
And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle
and a teacher.
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for
shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is
able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound
teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with
the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Here ends this reading of the Word of God for the People
of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer Before the Message
Holy One, as we listen once more to the wisdom of your Word, may we be fed both in mind and body. Help us open to your revelation of love and to receive your blessing with grace. Amen.
Today is Word Communion Sunday. Christians
in Skippack; and Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Harare, Zimbabwe; and Mumbai,
India; and Kiev, Ukraine; and Jakarta, Indonesia; and Wellington, New Zealand
are all meeting at the Communion Table to receive our Holy Meal TODAY. Christians in every land, on every continent,
even in the International Space Station orbiting the earth, are receiving
communion today. Christians of every walk of life are sharing a meal together.
If St. Paul was alive today and was still
in prison, he would have the opportunity to receive communion at a Christian
worship service in his prison. At SCI Phoenix, our local corrections institute,
inmates are invited to participate in Catholic, Protestant, Seventh Day
Adventist, Christian Scientist, Jehovah’s Witness, and Episcopalian worship
services. So, even Christians who are captive are invited to the Communion
Table today.
Everyone is welcome.
Over the years, as Christianity has evolved, we have opened the
table. In some churches, traditionally, people had to take rigorous theology
and catechism classes and officially become part of the church before they
could receive the elements. You had to jump through hoops before you were
welcome to the table. As part of the United Church of Christ, Trinity members
don’t believe in “Tests of Faith.” We welcome everyone to the table, young and
old, people who believe fervently in every last bit of Christian theology and
people who doubt and question every single part of Christian theology. We are all welcome at this table.
When Paul wrote his 2nd
letter to Timothy, he was suffering. He had been in living under house arrest
and then prison for many years. He felt abandoned by his former friends. He
felt ignored by the other Christians in Rome. And, Christians were in serious
trouble. The Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the great fire that destroyed
Rome in 64 AD – Christians were easy scapegoats for the Romans because they
were disliked by both Jewish and Gentile Romans. Many people who was arrested and then
admitted to be Christian believers were killed—sometimes in horribly violent
manners. Many martyrs were minted in this sad period. Eventually, even Paul
would become a martyr.
In light of how he felt and how
difficult things were for Christians, Paul remained true to his faith. At a
time when many people would throw in the towel, Paul remained steadfast. And,
despite the trials Timothy faced in Ephesus, he also wanted Timothy and his
fellow Christians to remain steadfast and dedicated to our shared faith. And,
Paul wanted to assure them that even when we suffer, we are seen and loved by
our God.
Friends, fortunately, we don’t live
in a time when Christianity is under attack, at least in the United States. We
won’t be martyred for being Christians, like Paul and many of his kindred were.
Now we live in a time and place where Christianity is becoming the faith of a
smaller and smaller group of people.
Some of us can remember a time period when people filled these pews, and
filled the pews of all of the neighboring congregations. People attended Church
and sat alongside their neighbors and co-workers. It was “normal” to be a
Christian and attend a church.
But, now we live in a day and a
place where what we do is not “normal.” – in fact, what we do is possibly
abnormal. Instead of sleeping in on Sunday or playing softball or eating brunch
before 11:30 am, we are here….we are here to worship a God fewer and fewer of
our neighbors are worried about having a relationship with. We are here because our faith compels us to be
here. We are here because our faith convinces us that this is important, that God
wants us to worship in community, and our faith makes a positive difference in
our lives and in the lives of others. We
are here despite having many other options.
As Paul said: For the Spirit God gave us does not make
us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. Even though our faith makes us different than our secular
friends and family members, in our difference, we find strength. Our Faith in
God helps us to be resilient and brave. Our faith in Jesus reminds us that God
loves us and expects us to be focused on doing good for the people of the world
and being kind to ourselves. Our faith helps us to discern our ethical and
moral priorities in a world where there are a lot of persuasive arguments to be
selfish and greedy. Our common faith in
God reminds us that the Holy Spirit of God is among us and within our very
beings guiding our hands and guiding our thoughts, helping us remain true and
focused on what the Lord requires of us. The Holy Spirit guides us and all
Christians to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Today is a special day. We are
reminded that we are not alone in our faith. There is a web of Christians
stretching across the globe to encourage us and to connect with us. Take heart
and know that we are not alone, and together we will bring Christ’s message of
love and compassion to the people of the world who desperately need to hear it.
Amen.
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