In the selection from the second letter to Timothy that we heard on Sunday, St. Paul begins by telling us that we "must keep to what you have been taught". Some translations encourage us to "remain in the things you have learned". In Greek, "meno" means to "remain". "Meno" can also be translated as "abide". The
word "abide" refers to a dwelling place where we remain. It suggests stability, something we associate with roots or home.
Jesus invites us to "abide in me" (John 15:4) and assures us that he will abide in us. He tells us that the one who abides in him will bear much fruit. He says we will not bear much fruit if we do not abide in him.
St. Paul is inviting
Timothy to remain in the things that he (Timothy) has learned so that he can "abide" in Jesus. He is encouraging Timothy to live in the pattern or way of life that he has learned ever since he was a child. We know that Timothy learned faith through his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois, both of whom, we are told, are believers (1:5). We know, too, that Timothy learned from Paul, who was his mentor.
St.
Paul urges Timothy to live in a self-disciplined way. Part of that discipline, Paul says, is to "learn wisdom" from the Scriptures. The Scriptures are another source of Timothy's faith journey and learning. We ought to remember that Paul is speaking here of the Old Testament. The New Testament had not yet begun to be formulated as we know it today. He is encouraging Timothy to stay close to the sacred writings of the Old Testament.
In our faith journey, we, too, have multiple sources of learning faith. We learn faith from grandparents, parents, Sunday school teachers, ministers, mentors and friends. In his letter to Timothy, Paul encourages us to read the Scriptures, the account of God's action in the life of God's people. The Scriptures are our foundational source. They reveal how God has worked and is working in the world and our lives. By regularly reading and engaging with the Scriptures, we
will be rooted, find our home, and "abide" in God. The Scriptures are an anchor for us as we journey through the waves of life.
Often – and most especially in Catholic circles! – we forget how essential reading and engaging God's word is. Only by doing this daily will we feel rooted and stable, knowing that no matter what happens and how we feel, we always have a home in God.
How often do you spend time with God's word in the Scriptures? Take a few moments to read Scripture today. You could read the text we are living with this week or one of your favourite pieces of Scripture. Become aware of the invitation, as you read, to abide in God's word.
