Sermon on the Feast of St. Timothy
Jan 26, 2022 Rev. Fr. Luis Calleja
My friends, I wish to commemorate today our beloved patron of our parish, St. Timothy. In the official liturgical calendar of the Latin Roman Church, St. Timothy is celebrated on the 26th of January, but today is a great opportunity to learn more about St. Timothy and what we can learn from him. St. Timothy shares his feast day with St. Titus, another great saint and disciple of St. Paul. And all three of these saints were instrumental in establishing the early Church throughout Asia Minor in the first century.
St. Timothy was born in Lystra, Asia Minor (which is now modern-day Turkey) to a Jewish mother and a non-Christian Greek father. The name Timothy comes from the Greek word Timótheos, which means "honoring God" or "honored by God." During St. Paul’s first trip to Lystra, along with another disciple named Barnabas, Timothy converted to the Christian faith when he heard St. Paul’s preaching and witnessed a few miracles.
Tradition tells us that Timothy was a young man when he decided to proclaim the Gospel with St. Paul and accompany on his journeys. He and St. Paul had a “Father-Son relationship” as we learn in Philippians 2:22, where St. Paul refers to Timothy as his “son.” During St. Paul’s final trip throughout Asia Minor, he put Timothy in charge of the Church in Ephesus (Turkey) and appointed him bishop, while Titus became the bishop of Crete. Tradition tells us that Timothy died a martyr in the city of his appointment.
Now, what can we learn from St. Timothy, and why is he still relevant for us today? First need to acknowledge that St. Timothy was a young convert to Christianity, and that God continues to invite young people and others to His redeeming love in the 21st century.
However, today Christianity and “religion in general” is slowly becoming more irrelevant due to the new secularist and atheistic philosophies. In a 2010 and 2014 pew survey conducted by San Diego State University Psychologist Dr Jean Twenge, she assessed that Millennials are significantly less religious than previous generations because they rather be independent and focus more on themselves. She says that “Religious involvement was low when individualism was high, [because] individualism is a cultural system that places more emphasis on the self and less on social rules. Individualism can conflict with religion, especially as religion usually involves following certain rules and being part of a group.”[1]
It’s not so much that millennials don’t believe in God, (many do, and many believe in a “higher power”); it has to do with ORGANIZED RELIGION itself. And that’s where we get popular statement: “I’m spiritual, but not religious.”
When someone thinks of religion, one thinks of “institution, organization, power, and corruption.”[2] Bishop Arthur Seratelli from the diocese of Paterson New Jersey says, “Not [being religious] is just another way of saying that faith is something between me and God.”[3]
Now if Catholicism is a treasure trove of wisdom, reflection, deep insights, practical advice, and moral guidelines that has survived for centuries and influenced many cultures, why is it declining? Bishop Seratelli argues, “[It’s because] Catholicism as a religion IS VERY DEMANDING! [And it teaches unpopular demands as well!] [The Church] preaches generosity, love, compassion, fidelity, chastity, practical deeds, acceptance of truths taught by the Church, Mass EVERY Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation. These are not just words. [It is] the way of life required of [every] practicing Catholic. The demands require effort. [The demands] require SACRIFICE.”[4] And sacrifice entails suffering. But it’s not just any kind of suffering – it’s redemptive suffering.
And so, what is redemptive suffering? Christ makes us participants in His redemptive self-offering to His Father in Heaven, to the Church, and to the world. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church (Colossians 1:24).”[5]
When Our Lady appeared to the three visionaries at Fatima, she reminded us of the mysterious participation in redemptive suffering. We are called to live the rest of our lives finding frequent opportunities to offer acts of reparation for the salvation of souls.
Now the previous generation of Catholics knew about redemptive suffering when they were taught to “offer up” their sufferings for others. For example, if you suffer from stomach pains, you offer this pain for those who are starving. If you are bored or impatient at home, you offer these things for those who have no home or are less fortunate. If you are feeling the inconvenience of being in isolation due to the pandemic, you offer your inconvenience for those who are lonely. If you have anger issues, you offer this anger for victims of abuse.
“Offering up your sufferings” is a spiritual way to look beyond ourselves when we offer our complaints, struggles and shortcomings for others. Offering things up is a great way to think less of ourselves and more for the salvation of others.
One of my mom’s co-workers once asked her, “Why are Catholics always being persecuted and why do we suffer so much?” The answer is “because we are constantly being PURIFIED.”[6] Our Intellect and Will has to be tested and proven; because remember, God doesn’t speak to us through our feelings and our emotions – He speaks to us through our Intellect (faith) and through our heart (charity) – and it takes a long time to root out sin in our souls, and it will be painful, similar to an addict suffering withdrawal or removing a cancerous tumor.
This is the “sacrificial aspect of our faith” which most Catholics from my generation have either ignored, forgotten, or were never taught to do. And as Catholics, we are called to sanctify and offer our personal sufferings to God daily so that we will become holy and perfect, as Our Heavenly Father is perfect.
Now when Jesus said that “We must be perfect”, He meant that literally, and He assured us that SPIRITUAL PERFECTION IS ATTAINABLE, but it will consist of a lot of sacrifice and suffering. To be “spiritual” from the world’s point of view removes all of that and instead teaches “worldly contentment.” But mere contentment will not bring true joy. It will only give us temporary fulfilment. It’s because we were created for ETERNAL LIFE.
And that’s why the Holy Saints are the “superheroes” of the Church. They proved to God and gave us the example that spiritual perfection is attainable. That’s why St. Timothy is a great example for millennials today. Here was a saint who embraced Christ at a young age, protected and preserved Church teaching, and gave his life for spiritual perfection.
Now, I’ve met many young Catholics and Christians with the same zeal that St. Timothy had. But our young Catholics today need to be steered in the right direction. Catechists and teachers of the faith ought to teach the truths of the faith, not personal theories or doubts. And we can’t be cafeteria Catholics! (meaning we don’t just pick and choose what we like or don’t like about what the Church teaches on matters of faith and morals). This will only lead to confusion. But from out of the chaos and uncertainty of our times will emerge new and faithful Catholics who will “fight the good fight, keep the faith and finish the race.”
And it only takes one good saintly person to change the heart of an individual! St Timothy was inspired to be Christian because of St. Paul. Some of us were inspired by a saintly priest, nun, teacher, parishioner, or family member. And in today’s world we need more St. Paul’s, St. Timothy’s, St. Don Bosco’s, St Rita’s, St Maria Goretti’s, St. Monica’s (patron saint of married women), and Blessed Emilina’s (patron saint of single, lay women). We also need to pray for courage and be ready to offer and accept our own personal sufferings so that God’s will be done.
And so, as we commemorate our patron St. Timothy, let us be BOTH RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL, especially in these times of isolation and social distancing. The word “religion” comes from the Latin word re-ligare, which means to “RECONNECT AGAIN”. Our faith demands us to RECONNECT WITH GOD daily – now how do we do that? Simple: it’s called PRAYER. We pray, but not according to our will and preference, but according to God’s will and His truth as revealed in Christ and through His Church. And to be spiritual in a “Catholic sense” is to practice the virtues of charity, self-giving, sacrifice, and to accept and offer redemptive suffering. If we practice these virtues during this pandemic, we will be closer to attaining Spiritual Perfection and peace, not only for ourselves, but for the whole world.
St Timothy, pray for us.
References:
[1] https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/millennials-less-religious_n_7452998?ri18n=true
[2] https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column/what-does-spiritual-but-not-religious-really-mean-2794
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] http://www.catholicdigest.com/from-the-magazine/ask-father/what-does-it-really-mean-to-offer-it-up/
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRQBaYfD1Go&t=9s
