Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs
I was delighted when I opened the scriptures for today and found our first reading! I’ve been praying it for the past couple weeks leading up to Pentecost, asking God to fan into flame the gifts of the Holy Spirit in myself and in others. Just as Paul laid hands on Timothy and prayed for a particular anointing, so we received the gifts of the Spirit through the laying on of hands and anointing with the holy chrism at our Confirmation. Those fiery gifts remain within us; sometimes the flames grow dim and we need to fan the embers so that the gifts will reignite. Today is a great day for each of us to reflect upon our spiritual life and look for any embers that need to be stirred so that we can walk more confidently as followers of Christ.
Paul’s letter to Timothy is beautifully pastoral. Reading between the lines we can recognize Paul’s empathy and love for his protegee. It seems that Timothy was in some distress; perhaps a crisis of faith, perhaps doubts about his ability to effectively minister to people, maybe some questions about his calling or his sense of worthiness. The anxious time in which we live has plunged us all into varied levels of distress and crisis. Perhaps you’re feeling it acutely today. In verses four and five, which are omitted from our reading, Paul recalls Timothy’s tears and reminds him of his sincere faith which was imparted to Timothy by his mother and grandmother. Affirming Timothy’s faith, Paul reminds Timothy to stir/fan into flame the gift of God that is within him. God gives us many kinds of gifts – gifts of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, specific charisms related to our calling – and we are responsible to keep them burning. It’s easy to become complacent or distracted and allow the fires of our giftedness to burn out. It takes mindfulness and diligence to keep them stirred up by prayerfully exercising them. Today, let’s be reminded of our faith. From that foundation point, let us resolve to stir up the evidence of that faith within us.
Paul reminds Timothy that the Spirit does not make him timid or afraid and he encourages his mentee not to be ashamed of his testimony. Because Paul knew him so well, he could give Timothy specific words of knowledge as encouragement. How about you? What are your inner struggles today? If you have trouble naming them, consider asking a trusted companion what s/he observes and recognizes in you. Today I’m asking myself, what gift(s) has God given me that I’ve allowed to burn down? Let’s name those specific struggle areas of our lives before the Lord and ask the Spirit to help us fan the flames. I pray for each one of us today that we might experience revival as God’s good gifts are reignited within us. May we walk in greater confidence and freedom today, as we go through our day intentionally fanning the flames with courage and boldness.
- Elizabeth Wourms