“Fan into Flame God’s Gift” by Colleen O’Sullivan
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God. (2Timothyr 1:6-8)
Piety
I know him in whom I have believed and am confident that (God) is able to guard what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:12b)
Study
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| The Apostle Paul, attributed to Rembrandt, National Gallery of Art, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons |
One of my friends had a daughter who was a very beautiful dancer. I saw her dance when she was older and she was exquisitely graceful on the stage. She had begun studying ballet at an early age. I guess this little girl had heard a number of adults commenting on the great gift she had been given, because one day when her father reminded her to practice, her response was that she shouldn’t have to because she was gifted. Her father immediately set her straight about the importance of nurturing any gift we are given. As far as dancing goes, that meant to practice, practice, practice.
The apostle Paul writes along those same lines in today’s first reading. Though imprisoned, he continues to correspond by letter with those he cares about. Timothy, a much younger man, is the recipient of more than one missive from Paul. Here Paul reminds Timothy that he has passed along the gift of the Holy Spirit with the laying on of hands. He exhorts the younger man not to let the Spirit lie dormant in his heart but to stir this gift into flame. God can be in us and all around us, but we need to recognize this and respond to God’s presence if the gift is to be of the utmost value in our lives.
Perhaps Timothy was on the shy or timid side because his mentor tells him that God doesn’t give us a spirit of cowardice. On the contrary, the Spirit empowers us to speak and act with confidence out of love for our brothers and sisters and the desire for their well-being. And how better to do that than by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Paul exhorts Timothy not to be embarrassed by Paul’s imprisonment or any hardship he himself may encounter on account of proclaiming the Gospel.
This is a beautiful passage of Scripture. We see the love, care, and concern of a mentor for a much younger, less experienced person. Paul speaks from his heart. You don’t have to be born a great orator or evangelist. You simply have to be rooted in God and be in touch with the Spirit within you. The Spirit will guide you in what to say or how to live with regard to sharing your faith. I personally know this to be true. I am rather quiet and reserved, and the thought of getting up in front of a crowd to speak used to frighten me to death. But, in my former life as a United Methodist pastor, I discovered that when you are speaking about what matters to you most, what anchors your life, all that fear and trepidation fly out the window. Someone back in those days told me I could sell ice to Eskimos. My response was, “Only if I loved the ice.” When we love God, the Spirit will show us how to share that with others both in words and deeds. As Paul writes, we simply have to fan into flame the gift already within us.
Action
Many of us have had the good fortune to have had one or more faith-filled mentors in our lives. Maybe it was your grandmother teaching you to pray, a great religious education teacher or a trusted spiritual director. When you are praying today, remember to give thanks for anyone who has served as a guide to you in your faith journey.
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