A Reflection on 2 Timothy 4:1-8 and Matthew 5:13-19 in the Spirit of Feria II infra Hebdomadam III post Epiphaniam
The liturgical readings of this day, following the radiant joy of the Epiphany season, exhort us to live out our faith with both boldness and fidelity. 2 Timothy 4:1-8 presents St. Paul’s solemn charge to Timothy to preach the word, endure in his vocation, and remain steadfast until the crown of righteousness is bestowed. Meanwhile, Matthew 5:13-19 challenges us to preserve our identity as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” fulfilling the law and teaching it with purity and truth. Together, these passages form a clarion call to persevere in the apostolic faith, rooted in the wisdom of Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
1. Preach the Word in Season and Out of Season (2 Tim. 4:1-8)
In his epistle, St. Paul’s words resonate with a sense of urgency:
“Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine.” (2 Tim. 4:2)
St. John Chrysostom comments that Paul’s insistence on preaching at all times reflects the responsibility of the teacher who must never grow weary in proclaiming the truth, regardless of opposition. “The teacher,” writes Chrysostom, “is like a physician who gives the remedy not when the patient wishes, but when the disease requires it.” The Gospel message is not subject to convenience or popularity but must be proclaimed with courage and fidelity, especially in times of trial.
Paul foresees a time when men “will not endure sound doctrine” (v. 3). This warning reminds us of the duty to remain vigilant against the creeping influence of error. St. Athanasius, the great defender of orthodoxy against Arianism, exemplified this perseverance. He endured exile and opposition but remained unyielding in proclaiming the truth of Christ’s divinity. For us today, Paul’s exhortation challenges us to defend the integrity of the Catholic faith against the relativism and indifference that so often tempt us to compromise.
2. Be the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World (Matt. 5:13-19)
Our Lord’s words in the Sermon on the Mount are equally stirring. The imagery of salt and light invites us to reflect on our role in the world. Christ declares:
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out and to be trodden on by men.” (Matt. 5:13)
St. Augustine interprets this warning as a reminder that Christians, like salt, must preserve the world from corruption. Without the transformative power of grace, human life is vulnerable to decay. Augustine writes, “If you lose your savour, how shall mankind be seasoned? It is through you that they are preserved; but if you fail, what will become of them?” This preservation requires not only personal holiness but also the courage to witness to the truth, ensuring that the faith is transmitted unaltered.
Similarly, the image of light shines forth in this Gospel passage:
“You are the light of the world… so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14, 16)
St. Gregory the Great, in his Homilies on the Gospels, urges us to consider the example we give through our actions. “Let your works so shine,” Gregory exhorts, “that they may bring others to imitate your deeds and glorify God.” This divine light, reflected in a life of virtue and faith, must not be obscured by compromise or hidden out of fear.
3. Fulfilling the Law and the Prophets
Christ’s words in Matthew 5:17-19 affirm the enduring validity of the moral law:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
St. Thomas Aquinas observes that Christ fulfills the law in three ways: by perfecting its precepts, by fulfilling its types and figures, and by granting the grace to live according to its spirit. He emphasizes that Christ does not abolish the moral law but elevates it, calling us to a deeper righteousness that springs from a transformed heart. In our time, this calls for a renewed commitment to uphold the fullness of Catholic teaching, even when it is misunderstood or rejected by the world.
4. A Call to Holiness and Perseverance
Both St. Paul and Our Lord challenge us today to persevere in holiness. The saintly lives of the Church Fathers offer us concrete examples of what this looks like. St. Ambrose, writing on Matthew 5, exhorts us to “keep the salt of wisdom within you, that you may not become foolish.” Wisdom comes from frequent meditation on Scripture, fidelity to the Sacraments, and prayerful communion with God.
Likewise, St. Cyril of Alexandria reminds us that our light shines not for our glory but for the glory of God: “Let the lamp be kindled in you, and do not conceal the brightness of your light, so that those who see may glorify not you, but the Father.”
Finally, St. Paul’s words to Timothy offer us the hope of a reward:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day.” (2 Tim. 4:7-8)
We are called to the same fight, the same perseverance, and the same reward. Let us embrace this charge with courage, trusting that by God’s grace we may remain faithful to our mission as salt and light in a world that desperately needs the preserving and illuminating power of Christ.
Conclusion
On this Feria II infra Hebdomadam III post Epiphaniam, the Church reminds us of our sacred duty to preach the word, preserve the faith, and live as witnesses to the truth of Christ. Like St. Paul and the saints of old, we are called to endure in the face of challenges, trusting that our labor is not in vain. May we heed the words of Christ and St. Paul, allowing the light of faith to shine brightly in our lives and preserving the savour of holiness in a world often prone to spiritual decay.
Let us pray for the grace to be faithful, so that we too may say with St. Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis!