Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
From: 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Pastoral Advice to Timothy
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[12] Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. [13] Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. [14] Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you. [15] Practise these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. [16] Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
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Commentary:
12-13. A good minister should be a model of virtue. Timothy was obviously very young for the office he held; the Apostle therefore keeps telling him that he must give good example because virtues give a person more experience than age does.
"Reading, preaching, teaching": all three were done at the liturgical assemblies of the early Christians (and continue to be done during the Liturgy of the Word at Mass): some texts of Sacred Scripture were read and then the minister gave a homily which would have included some words of encouragement and some doctrinal instruction.
14. The gift referred to here is that of the sacrament of Order: it is a permanent gift ("the gift you have") from God, bestowed by an external rite consisting of liturgical prayer and the laying on of hands. This interpretation is derived from the context: the "gift" (charism) is indelible (Timothy may neglect it but he can never lose it); therefore, it does not refer to sanctifying grace but to the priestly "character" or mark which the sacrament imprints along with the grace of the sacrament itself.
The "prophetic utterances", which in the New Testament means "public teachings (cf. note on 1 Tim 1 18-19) or words spoken in God's name, here refers to the prayers used in the ordination rite.
The "laying on of hands" is another technical expression. Jesus used this gesture many times (cf. Mt 9:18-19, 19:15; Mk 6:5; 7:32; 8:23-25; 16:8; Lk 4:40; 13:13); the Apostles used it as a rite for bringing down the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17; 19:6). Here, as elsewhere in these letters, the laying on of hands is the rite of priestly ordination (cf. 1 Tim 5:22; 2 Tim 1:6), whereby the mission and powers of the person performing the rite are passed on, thereby ensuring continuity of priesthood. In 2 Timothy 1:6, a parallel text, it says "through the laying on of my hands"; whereas here it says "when the elders laid their hands on you". The participles "through" and "when" imply that the action of imposition of hands is an essential part of the sacrament.
The Church has preserved intact the essential elements of the sacrament of Order--the laying on of hands and the consecrating words of the bishop (cf. Paul VI, Apost. Const. Pontificalis Romani Recognitio, 18 July 1968).
15-16. As well as being mindful of his grace of ordination, the Christian minister must remain true to his obligations: "Take heed to yourself". Although the calling to Church office does not demand exceptional qualities in the candidate, he still needs to be exemplary and to put special effort into developing virtues or else his ministry will not be nearly as productive as it might be. "Apostolic soul: first of all, yourself. Our Lord has said, through St Matthew: 'When the day of Judgment comes, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, work many miracles in your name? Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men.' God forbid--says St Paul--that I, who have preached to others should myself be rejected" (St J. Escriva, The Way, 930).
"Hold to that", literally "hold to these things": probably a reference to the various points made in this chapter and perhaps also to things the Apostle had at different times told Timothy to keep an eye on. Perseverance is necessary for the minister himself and for the good of the people to whom he ministers.