Scripture
scholars believe that Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy in order to
encourage him and motivate him in his ministry to the people of Ephesus. We might wonder why Paul includes these wise
words about Scripture in this letter, because surely Paul had spoken to Timothy
about Sacred Scripture previously.
Perhaps it is because when we get bogged down with the nitty-gritty
details of our daily lives, when we're stressed out about things and trying to
live out the Gospel in the midst of so much that is going on, we can lose sight
of what is central. Perhaps these words
about Scripture are a reminder for us today, to see the truth in God’s word and
not to try to twist it into our desires and our own whims. It is easy to manipulate God’s word, isn’t
is? But we go back to the Word of God
again and again for it to instruct us and correct us and guide us.
I was having a
discussion with Diane Melton, or director of religious education in our
parishes in Yazoo City, in which we were lamenting the lack of interest in our
adult religious education programs.
Growing in our faith and interpreting the Word of God is not something
that we’re meant to do in isolation, but rather in the context of our parish
and with our brothers and sisters of Christ.
What we learn about God will become stagnant, it will wither and die, if
we don’t constantly feed it and don’t continue to nurture our faith. May we look to God’s word for inspiration and
courage, no matter where we are on our journey.
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