Lord, Your words are spirit, and they are life. You have the message of eternal life
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) : Sunday 9th October 2022
2 Kgs. 5:14-17; Ps. 97:1,2-3ab,3cd-4;
2 Tim. 2:8-13; Lk. 17:11-19 (Ps Wk IV)
Second Timothy was an epistle St Paul wrote to his young assistant, Timothy. It was a pastoral letter written during St Paul’s last imprisonment in Rome.
In today’s passage, St Paul urged Timothy to “Remember the Good News’” – “God’s news” (vv 8-9) that St Paul carries, i.e. “Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David” (v 8). Here, St Paul lays down the dual facts about Jesus – being human because he came from the Davidic line; and being divine because He had “risen from the dead”.
As Jesus had suffered and died, St Paul shared his “own hardships … being chained like a criminal”, who is soon to die (v 9). In sharing this, St Paul is conveying to Timothy that “on account” of the Good News, suffering is inevitable during the evangelisation of “God’s news”.
However, suffering and death are not the last words. St Paul reassured Timothy that “if we have died with Him (Jesus), then we shall live with Him” (v 11). Eternal life awaits. Therefore, St Paul says, “hold firm” and “we shall reign with Him” (v 12). In eternity, we shall live victoriously with Jesus.
What if we “disown” Jesus and are “unfaithful” to Him? Then, He will “disown us” (v 12), but He will remain “always faithful” to all manifesting His mercy and justice (v 13).
Today, with faith and courage, let us continue steadfastly in sharing the Good News, God’s News!
Lord, Your words are spirit, and they are life. You have the message of eternal life.
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