Mtr Kelli Joyce

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the Feast of Ss. Timothy and Titus! St. Timothy, in particular, has always been very special to me. The first Bible verse I ever memorized was 2 Timothy 1:7. "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." I was four years old when I was taught this verse at a church Halloween event, and it remained my favorite Bible verse throughout my childhood, serving as an ever-present comfort in the face of anxiety.

My fondness for St. Timothy only grew as I got older and learned more about him - his deep love of God from childhood, his relationship with his mother and his grandmother, and his willingness to step up and lead in his community. Another early memory verse I loved was 1 Timothy 4:12. "Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Because St. Paul remarks on Timothy having trouble with his stomach, St. Timothy has been given the dubious honor of being the patron Saint of intestinal disorders. I would propose, however, that he also be thought of as the patron of the young faithful. God calls everyone - the young and the old and everyone in between - to serve. If you are a young Christian, or if you love a young Christian, I commend the example of St. Timothy to you. God is less concerned with our age and more concerned with our speech and our conduct. God calls all of us, young and old, to be good examples to our fellow members of the Body of Christ, in love, in faith, in purity. May it be so.

In peace,
Mtr Kelli