An Epistle According to You.

Today’s first reading is filled with emotion. Whether written by Paul or a disciple of Paul’s after his death, the words of the epistle reveal tenderness and quiet confidence. The letter situates Paul in jail in Rome, awaiting imminent death. It reads like a last testament, enlivened by intimate details. Paul longs to see Timothy, whom he calls, “my dear child.” He acknowledges his painful captivity and commends Lois and Eunice for their faithful example. He exhorts Timothy (and those who read and hear the letter) to keep their faith alive in the boldness of the Spirit.

The reading reminds us that our faith is not a relic preserved far from human reach but that it lives and breathes in real people who care deeply about one another and who need encouragement from time to time. The letter realistically points to the challenges of faithful living, but it also affirms the consolation of God’s strength and loving presence, which is often mediated through people we meet during our very ordinary days.

Imagine writing such a letter today. Is there someone in your life who needs your encouragement? Have you been waiting to tell someone how dear they are to you? Is there a Lois and Eunice in your life whom you want to thank for helping you grow in faith, hope, and love? Do you long to write your own testimony of faith, however complicated or muddled it might be? The words may come freely, but if they don’t, remember that the Spirit of God—hardly a cowardly Spirit—stirs in and around you too, helping you craft your own epistle.

Fr. Kevin O’Brien. Taken from Give Us This Day.

Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ, is dean of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. He is author of The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in Daily Life.