In 2 Timothy, Paul writes from prison towards the end of his life, challenging Timothy to take on his mantle. Timothy, of the timid disposition, is exhorted to the task of boldly guiding the young divided churches. Paul stresses the importance of relying on scripture and on the Holy Spirit which has empowered him with love and self-discipline.

Paul's entrusting to Timothy his work of bringing the message of God to others is reminiscent of Jesus' own appointing of the Seventy-two which we read about in today's Gospel. The detailed instructions given by Jesus reveal the same loving solicitousness for the welfare of the missionaries, and even more so, the same grave concern about their ability to suffer 'hardships for the sake of the Good News' (2 Tim. 1:8). Courage and integrity are emphasized in the missionary call.

The problems Paul asked Timothy to face and Jesus spelled out to the Seventy-two are still with us today, though perhaps existing under different names. For us, the day-to-day reality of the struggle to be "missionaries" in the face of consumerism, materialism and egoism also calls for courage, integrity and loyalty to none but God, His Word and the Holy Spirit.