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| See how they hang on his every word? Sermon and Deeds of the Antichrist (Luca Signorelli, 1499–1504) |
Today’s Epistle reading, the second at Mass, is from Saint Paul’s instruction to Saint Timothy, whom he is leaving in charge of a local Church. Not one of the Twelve, Timothy nonetheless steps into the role of apostle and overseer (episcopos = bishop) of a body of Christians as Paul moves on.
Paul fills his two letters to Timothy with instructions about all sorts of things, first and foremost in living wholeheartedly the Faith that he has been given, with confidence the God Who has called him. He also gives pointers on what to demand of priests and deacons, and for resolving disputes, among other things.
Today’s reading is near the end of the second letter, encouraging as well as hortatory as Paul nears the conclusion of his instruction. He is quite specific about the expectations, but also wants Timothy to know that in Christ, he can do this. It is a very warm and human correspondence.
But between the ending of the passage we hear this week, and the beginning of next Sunday’s epistle, there are omitted these two verses:
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 4:4-5)
Why the Lectionary omits this, I cannot fathom. It is not so much a clairvoyant prediction of some future time or event, but a rock-solid insight into reality. “The time is coming” is not about some future day or date, but is, in fact, about human nature, and the fragile nature of the community of faith. In this regard, it is like Our Lord’s observation: One of you will betray me. Like all of the Sacred Scriptures, it is about right now, and it is about us.
You could not distill a more pure and accurate description of the modern Christians in general, and early twenty-first century Catholics in particular, including especially those of the entire Christian West, of the USA, of the DMV, and of zip code 20901.
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.
This is a peril, this is a phenomenon: itching ears. Who tickles people’s ears, and who tickles their fancies? Flatterers, politicos, and hucksters; liars, frauds, and cowards. They propose what you want to hear, and tell you how right you are to demand it, so you will do what they tell you to do, what will benefit them. As simple as it can be to spot their falsehoods, people want to believe these promises of ease, and turn away from the Truth. And the Way. And the Life. They relinquish the freedom of the Sons and Daughters of God, and become slaves.
This “time” is now, my brothers and sisters; and the people concerned look an awful lot like us. Heed Saint Paul’s warning and flee anyone who offers you anything other than the Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I cannot guess why the compilers omitted this admonition from our Lectionary, but it may explain why I do what I do to know that these verses hang next to my mirror, each day to remind me: As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
Monsignor Smith
