Part of Something Beyond Us

In 2 Timothy 1:1-7, Paul writes to his young friend Timothy. At this point, Paul is an older man, and he is writing from jail. Paul knew that he was near the end of his life, and It is clear that he has a deep need to hand on what is dearest in his life – and that is his very ministry. He wants this ministry to continue in the life of Timothy.

Paul is also very much aware of his own place in the larger picture, and so he writes, “I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did…” In essence, I am part of something bigger here. And Timothy, you are too.

Paul goes on to write, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.”

In other words, Timothy, this faith didn’t begin with you; and it doesn’t end with you. But you do have a place in it. You do have a role to play. This faith, this ministry has blessed countless people before you. It has carried them through very difficult times. It has now been carefully been passed down and entrusted to you.

At some point we cross that line, don’t we? In our faith journey, we go from receiving to giving… from being nourished, to begin the one who nourishes; from being one who has been brought into or brought up in the faith, to being the one who builds on what we have been given so that it can one day be handed down to others.

The truth is we have been entrusted with much: our families and communities, the beauty of the earth we live on, the freedom of this country we live in, the faith community that nurtures us; and the gospel itself. Many people worked hard to preserve, sometimes improve upon and hand these down to us. Not only do we have much to be grateful for, we too have a role to play in the stewardship of these gifts.

As we approach this season of Thanksgiving, I invite you to reflect on the many blessings in your life and the ways in which you personally are called to contribute.

Let us pray: God of Grace, it is clear that we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us. And we remember those who will come after us. In the time we have here and now, may you empower us to do our part. Meet us today at the deepest point of our need. Heal us, renew us, strengthen us and give us the grace and courage to respond. Amen.