By Fr. Glenn Jones:
One thing that the Charlie Kirk murder made very evident was a modern stark divide between Christian and secular thought. Regardless of what one might have thought of Kirk, much hatred has been directed at him and at Christians in general—even to the point that he “deserved” to die, some mocking and even celebrating his death, and more broadly, ridiculing and disparaging Christian faith which he professed, however imperfectly as some have said (but NO one observes it perfectly because of human weakness). But, sadly, that seems to be the norm of “dialogue” these days. Even elected officials seem to have discarded decorum for screeching over one another at legislative meetings, digressing to slander and even open profanity.
For the common men and women who seek a peaceful life in which to live and raise and cultivate family life, avoiding contention is a constant hope. Yet, as life teaches us, contention and some strife are inevitable and different values, ideas and desires clash.
But, while the Christian observance is waning, at least in the U.S., St. Paul’s exhortation that we hear in the Catholic Mass today (Oct. 5) resonates strongly today as it has through the centuries: “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:7-8) This passage, written during Paul’s final imprisonment, remains a beacon calling Christians to courageous witness, rooted in promised divine strength and fervent charity. Paul’s aim is not just to comfort the young bishop Timothy, but to encourage boldness to proclaim Christ, irrespective of cost. Living, and calling others to, the Gospel is the greatest of love and charities that we can do. If not us, then who? If not now, then when?
Paul’s letter hinges on the notion of divine empowerment. The “spirit of cowardice” to which Paul refers is not simply human fear, but a shrinking from duty, a refusal to embrace the suffering that Gospel fidelity sometimes entails … that Jesus Himself warned about. Instead, Paul emphasizes, God gives another kind of spirit—one characterized by “power, and love, and self-control”, enabling that for which human strength alone might prove inadequate.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we see this very strength at Pentecost: the Spirit descends, the apostles are transformed from men hiding in fear into courageous heralds of Christ, defying threats and imprisonment to witness to the resurrection (Acts 2:1-4; 4:31). Paul wants Timothy—and every Christian—to know that this Spiritually-provided power continues to animate the Church.
No less critical is the “spirit of love” Paul writes about. After all, love is the mark of authentic Christian testimony: “If I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2), and, of course, Jesus Himself emphasizes “love of neighbor” as the second great commandment, even pleading for His executioners from the cross. Thus the same Spirit who emboldens martyrs is ready to fill today’s Christians, too, with divine charity—not hatred for their persecutors but the very love of Christ, poured into their hearts (Romans 5:5).
Love is what roots the Christian’s witness in the life of Jesus, whose own suffering was the supreme act of self-giving charity. Christian courage is unique precisely because it remakes even suffering in the shape of love—turning hatred and persecution into opportunity for blessing, and opposition into paths for virtuous forgiveness.
Finally, Paul’s cited “spirit of self-control” points to the Christian virtue of prudent mastery over the self, a hallmark of spiritual maturity—not unfeeling stoicism, but resistance to both negative internal passions and external threats. The early priest Origen commented, “The Spirit brings conformity not only in outward conduct but guides all the thoughts and movements of the heart,” echoing Paul’s “… take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:5). Self-mastery makes possible both courage of martyrs and the gentle endurance of daily Christian life.
Paul’s injunction—“So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord”—cuts to the very heart of discipleship. To be Christian is to bear witness; to deny Christ by shame or silence is to abandon the very mission entrusted to His disciples. St. Augustine, meditating on shame and witness, writes: “We must be witnesses to Christ in word, and above all in deed—lest we betray Him by our way of living, even if our mouths profess Him.” For Augustine, the greatest testimony is the life lived in conformity to Christ, unashamed to belong to Him in every circumstance.
Paul’s words are hardly just relics of distant past; they are vital for today’s Christian. In a world often hostile to faith, Christians can be tempted to lose heart, to retreat into private belief, or to compromise conviction for convenience. The ever-present temptation toward “a spirit of cowardice” manifests each time Christians choose silence over truth, comfort over charity, passivity over faithful stewardship. Yet the power of Pentecost, the love that animated the martyrs, the self-control that sustained countless saints over millennia remain ever available through faith.
How can we fulfill Paul’s mandate? Through intimacy with God through prayer, sacraments, and Scripture, relying on divine strength rather than mere human resolve. By bearing witness in daily life: courageously but gently living and speaking the Gospel … in work, family life, and social encounters. By embracing kindness, charity and graciousness even toward those who hate. Let charity be the watchword, refusing to bear witness to Christ in a way that rejects rather than attracts, yet being ever faithful to His Truth. And, of course, by self-mastery, rejecting compromises to Christian fidelity, and living with the disciplined joy that points to the reality of grace.
St. Paul’s words to Timothy ring through every age in which Christians must choose between the easy path and fidelity to Christ. The “spirit of power, love, and self-control” is the enduring antidote to timidity, enabling believers to bear unashamed witness—sometimes through heroic deeds, yes, but always through enduring fidelity. By these Jesus’ divine commission will ever echo in our hearts to strengthen resolve: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.