Share Your Story

A Reflection on the Second Reading for October 6th, 2019:
​Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

2 Timothy 1.6-8, 13-14

Beloved: I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the Gospel, relying on the power of God.

Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

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Have you ever shared your conversion story? Your story along with the ups and downs of your journey will be unique and individual. Often, like mine, it will be mingled with pain and sadness but even despite this, the ability to trust in the truth and find joy in a loving God is a prelude to heaven. As well as this, you will find yourself changing through a personal relationship with God and a renewed love of others.


Saint Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written during his incarceration in a Roman prison around 66 AD. Saint Paul’s extraordinary life story is inspiring, motivating, and encouraging. Before his conversion Paul was a cruel persecutor of Christians. However, from the moment he encountered Christ, his life changed and he never backed away from proclaiming the truth. He was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, and finally beheaded because of his faith in Christ. Paul suffered for the truth entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit.


At the end of his life Paul found himself “chained like a criminal” (2 Timothy 2:9) yet he proclaimed without fear “…God’s word is not chained.”(2 Timothy 2:9). Incredibly, even though his body was imprisoned his spirit remained free. Imprisonment did not stop Paul from proclaiming Christ, in fact his greatest joy was that the Good News of Jesus was spreading throughout the earth and transforming lives. Timothy is exhorted in this letter to stand strong and pass on the faith to others. I thank God he and many others did just this, else I would not be writing this reflection!

"Incredibly, even though his body was imprisoned his spirit remained free."

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The current preaching series at my church is about “Breaking the Barriers.” Our church is vibrant and is attended by 1400 people each weekend. Despite this, I was saddened to learn that in a catchment area of about 60,000 people, this constitutes only 2%. Some folks may be attending other Christian churches but the stark fact is that most of my neighbours don’t know Jesus. I reflected that by virtue of my baptism, I am called to be a missionary disciple. I want to share this new hope, joy, and peace I find within me but sadly I often hold back for fear of  disapproval, rejection, and derision.  Unlike Paul, I will not be beheaded or beaten if I share my faith! With the Holy Spirit I can cultivate friendships and I know that in loving personal relationships Truth can be shared. In chapter 4 of 2 Timothy, Saint Paul mentioned that he experienced resistance and at times was deserted. In 2 Timothy 4:17 Paul writes, “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the proclamation may be completed and all the gentiles might hear it.”

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I pray for all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and especially joy when I witness to the truth of Christ within me. My favourite verse when I have any fear is, “The Lord will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” (Exodus 14:14).


​Liz Galsworthy

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