I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to one another, tearing down the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles by creating one Church united in one Spirit, giving us access to the Father. Jesus built his Church on the foundation of the twelve Apostles, with Peter as the head. Every bishop and pope throughout history has carried on in a direct line of succession from Christ’s hand-picked Apostles.
Since the beginning, the Church has seen difficult times, persecution, corruption, and scandal. Some of the men who have led the Church have gone against the will of God and followed their own selfish plans. Still, the Church has withstood these trials, and through the Holy Spirit she has grown and matured, spiritual brick by spiritual brick. Through holy men and women following the example of Jesus, the Church has survived and continued in the truth. Our call is to be holy men of God who follow the leadership of the Church and help guide her into the future.
Questions for reflection
How do you react in the face of scandal and challenging times within the Church?
How are you responding to your call to help build up the Church, under the leadership of the Apostles’ successors?
How do you support others in the Church when they struggle with doubts about authority within the Church?
Praying with Scripture
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Pt 2:9)
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Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
