In today's first reading, 2 Timothy 2: 8-15, Paul is speaking to Timothy, and to us, from prison , asking us to "[r]emember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory." As a prisoner, as one in chains, Paul "died with Christ" and therefore now "lives with Christ in eternal glory."
Remembering Jesus Christ gave Paul the strength that he needed to endure being treated like a criminal. The Christ who strengthened Paul in prison and in chains is the same Christ who helps our black brothers and sisters who suffer the "chains" of discrimination and false imprisonment. Let us remember that any person, of any color, who dies with Christ "shall also live with him." Any person who perseveres with Christ, "shall also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2: 8-15). In verse 15 of chapter 2 Paul, who now lives and reigns with Christ in eternal glory, asks us to be "eager to present [ourselves] as acceptable to God, a [laborer] who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation." Our black brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters of any color do just that as well as we white people do! In the words of today's responsorial psalm, Psalm 25, "may God guide [us] in [this] truth and teach [us]" what we need to know to eradicate racism in this country but, more importantly, in each of our hearts, for God alone is our savior! And let us remember, in the words of this psalm, that all "the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy." So if we are kind to all people, we are then on the path of the Lord and, if not, we are on the path of the Evil One.
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