Brothers and
sisters, let us open our hearts today to the embers of faith glowing within us,
embers kindled by generations of Martyrs and nurtured by the steady hand of
God. Paul, writing to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith, reminds us of this
lineage of light, a line that stretches from Lois, Timothy's grandmother, to
Eunice, his mother, and down to him, and ultimately, to each of us.
Think for a
moment, dear friends, of those who first sparked your own faith, who held your hand,
sang to you, spoke of God's love in whispers against your cheek. Their touch, their voice, their tears, their
sacrifices, their sufferings are the flames that lit our way, flames that may
flicker in the wind, but never truly die.
Paul writes,
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother
Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Can
you hear the echo of those words through the ages? Can you feel the hands of
Lois on your shoulder, the love of Eunice in your heart? Their legacy, their
faith, can burn within us, and urge us to fan it into a blaze. It is the fire
of the Love of Jesus, flowing from his Sacred Heart and burning in the heart of
whoever really loves him.
But faith,
like any fire, needs fuel. It yearns for the stories of scripture, the warmth
of prayer, the company of fellow believers. Together Christians are stronger. Do
you remember the laying on of hands, the symbol of the Holy Spirit bestowed
upon you? It is not a mere memory, but a call to action, to use this gift, to
share this light, to let it ignite the world around you.
For God,
Paul tells us, has not given us “the spirit of fear, but of power, and of
love, and of a self-control.” Fear may whisper doubts in our heart and sometimes may push us to give up, thinking that it
is not possible to bear witness to Jesus today. But, remember the power that is yours, the
power of faith, the power of love, the power of divine insight and knowledge. When
we surrender to the Holy Spirit, worshiping God in “Spirit and Truth” becomes a
possible mission within our reach. Let these be the bellows that fan your
flame, pushing back the darkness, revealing the of the Truth.
So, let us not
be ashamed, brothers and sisters, of the testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do not let the world’s indifference or mockery dim your spark. Stand tall,
raise your voice, let your light shine.
This, dear
friends, is the true legacy of Lois, Eunice, and countless others who have gone
before us. They didn’t leave us perfect worlds, but they left us something far
more precious, the embers of faith, the spark of love, the burning belief that
even in the darkest night, even amidst the fiercest storm, God’s light cannot
be extinguished.
Today, let
us honor their legacy. Let us fan the flames within us. Let us be the fire that
warms the world, the beacon that guides the lost, the light that shows the way
home. For in the burning heart of every believer lies the power to change the
world, one small flame at a time.
Let us go
forth, dear friends, and go confidently. Go boldly. Go with the fire of faith
in your eyes and the love of God in your heart. Let your light shine, and may
it set the world ablaze.
May God bless you
and fill your life with His peace and Joy!!!
Amen.
Let us pray :
Father, like a child holding onto Paul's
weathered letter, we come before You. We see the fire You've lit in our
lineage, sparks of faith passed through generations, burning bright in lives of
parents.
But sometimes, Lord, those embers flicker,
threatened by the winds of doubt or the weight of the world. Help us fan them
back to life, Lord. Show us how to use the gifts You've placed in our hands,
not for our own glory, but like polished tools to build Your kingdom. Give us
the backbone to stand tall with open hearts fueled by Your power, Your love,
Your unwavering peace.
Let our lives be torches in the darkness,
Father, radiating the warmth of Your grace. May those around us feel the flame
glow, drawn to the fire of Your salvation. We may stumble, we may falter, but
in Jesus' name, we'll keep walking, keep shining, until every last one of us
finds His embrace.
We make our prayers through Christ our
Lord, Amen.🙏🙏🙏
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