Today’s Reading is amazing! It is as if St. Paul traveled through time to blast Protestants and schismatics with a powerful message. How anyone can read 1 Timothy, 6:2-12 and still be pleased with being in schism is an anti-miracle:
Beloved:
Teach and urge these things.
Whoever teaches something different
and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching
(Do you teach something different? Do you not agree with Jesus’ words: “if you do not eat My Body and Drink My Blood, you do not have life in you.”? If so, this is what St. Paul says to you:
(Such a person) is conceited, understanding nothing,
and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.
Does that sum up you, or your beliefs? What bad effect does not believing in Jesus have?
From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,
and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,
who are deprived of the truth,
supposing religion to be a means of gain.
Many do use religion for gain, setting up money-making schisms at a great rate.
Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.
If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.
Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap
and into many foolish and harmful desires,
which plunge them into ruin and destruction. (When they sink into schism.)
For the love of money is the root of all evils,
and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith (Have gone into schism?)
and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, man of God, avoid all this.
Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion,
faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
Compete well for the faith. (Remain a faithful, obedient Catholic.)
Lay hold of eternal life,
to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses.” (Some of those witnesses were, and are, in Heaven. Do not stray! They will remember, and you will be held accountable.)
