Friends, welcome to Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. Word on Fire is an

apostolate dedicated to the mission of evangelization using media both old and

new to share the faith on every continent and to facilitate an encounter with

Christ and His Church. The efforts of Word on Fire engage the culture and bring

the transformative power of God's Word where it is most needed. Today we invite

you to join Bishop Robert Barron as he preaches the gospel and shares the

warmth and light of Christ with each one of us.

Peace be with you. Friends, our second reading this week is from Paul's second

letter to Timothy. I did a couple weeks ago. I spoke on first Timothy and I

mentioned to you how the scholars are divided. Some say that Paul wrote these

letters, others say he didn't write them. I kind of leaned toward the explanation

that yes, he did write them. I won't bore you with all the details on both sides

of them. But if Paul did indeed write this second letter to Timothy, it's one of

the last things we have from St. Paul. So it's a very precious text. There are so

many things in this short passage that are worthy of commentary. I'm just going

to say a few things. Here's a Paul says to Timothy. Now keep in mind Timothy was

his young friend whom he had brought into the faith. We hear that he placed

hands on his head meaning he ordained him and he's like an old soldier passing

on advice to his to the young soldier. So he speaks to Timothy. Paul knows that

he calls at the end of his life and he's passing on wisdom to his young friend.

Here's what he says as our passage for today begins. I'm already being poured

out like a libation. Now we won't get this right away but people in the ancient

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