I don’t know how many of you will remember the names, but when I was a boy, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were a staple part of our television diet. Roy and Dale were a married couple who lived in the fictional town of Mineral City. Typical episodes followed the stars as they rescued the weak and helpless from the clutches of dishonest lawmen, con artists, bank robbers, claim jumpers, rustlers, and other "bad guys."
Dale Evans is also a published author of a book entitled: Lead the Way to Jesus. One chapter of the book concentrates on the ways in which grandparents can lead their grandchildren to Jesus. As you might have guessed already, Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, comes up for discussion in this chapter. Ms. Evans wrote: her example, her teachings, and her faith were strong influences in Timothy’s life. This is exactly what St. Paul is talking about in today’s passage from the Second Letter to Timothy.
We also note that St. Paul says that all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Of course, at the time that this letter was written, it was dangerous to be a Christian. As I mentioned earlier this week, St. Paul is writing from his prison cell. He is definitely being persecuted for preaching the Gospel. However, he also insists that those who have been taught the Scriptures should be equipped with everything they need to competently refute the erroneous teachings of their persecutors.
The Scriptures are a necessary and vital part of our lives. The Church cannot pray without the Scriptures. Our faith in Jesus is dependent upon our understanding of the Gospels and the entirety of the Scriptures. So like Timothy we are all well equipped to withstand any negative forces in our lives if we simply remain close to Jesus and the Gospel that he has taught us.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator