The first reading for today is the Apostle Paul's words to his fellow worker, Timothy (who had served closely with him). It was written by him from prison, very near the end of his life. He won the crown of martyrdom when he was beheaded in Rome. That was why he said, "my life is already poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith" (2 Tim 4:6-7).

In his parting words to Timothy, he had urged him to "proclaim the message ...(and) make the preaching of the Good News your life's work" 2 Tim 4: 2, 5. Furthermore, Timothy is to "refute falsehood, correct error, call to obe-dience" (v 2) ... be careful always to choose the right course; (and) be brave under trials (v 5).

What would it be like for us to say these words to another? Would our words encourage, strengthen, and edify them (build them up)? Would our words be believ-able because of how we have lived and are living our life?

Or are we unbelievable like the scribes in the Gospel, who like "to be greeted obsequiously, take the front seats and the places of honour at banquets ... who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers" (Mt 12:38-40)?

Let us be like Paul, who, with a noble and generous heart, took the Word of God to himself and yielded a har-vest through his perseverance.