Guarding the entrusted good deposit

St Paul says, ‘I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you… for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, …but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God…in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus…guard the good deposit entrusted to you’ (cf 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14).

Beloved people of God, the challenge is in ‘guard the good deposit entrusted to you’ (cf 2 Tm 1:14). St Paul challenged Timothy as he challenges us today. Everyone receives a good deposit of goodness. This is true because we are all created in the image and likeness of God, and God is good. We all have this good deposit entrusted to us. Through our baptism, we receive lots more of grace, faith, hope, love, mercy, forgiveness, and generosity. God opens up to us the treasures of heaven, the wealth of the kingdom, as his adopted children, sons and daughters. The words of St Paul, therefore, remain relevant to us all. To guard this good deposit entrusted to us is not an option. It is an obligation. It is a duty. Yet, the Lord tells us that even ‘when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘we are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty’(Lk 17:5-10).  

May we harken to the Psalmist as he invites us then, ‘O come; let us bow and bend low. Let us kneel before the Lord who made us, for he is our God, and we the people, the people of his pasture, the flock of his hand…today you would listen to his voice, ‘Harden not your hearts’ (cf Ps 95ff). May our ‘soul not be puffed up. May it be upright within us. May we live by our faith, like the righteous. (Habakkuk 1:2-3: 2:2-4).

Fr. Ted