Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, as well as the Forefeast of the Theophany.

Today’s Epistle lesson is timed specially for this Sunday, the Sunday before the feast of the Theophany. The reading is taken from the second epistle of St. Paul to his closest helper and spiritual son, Timothy. This letter, as well as the other pastoral letters (two to Timothy and one to Titus), are quite different from St. Paul’s other epistles. These three were written later than all the other letters, and the second letter to Timothy was, in fact, written not long before the martyric death of the Apostle Paul. The other, earlier letters were all sent to specific Churches, answered concrete questions, offered advice and instructions, and revealed the mysteries of the Christian faith. The pastoral epistles were sent to Timothy and Titus who were, you could say, the successors of the apostle Paul. These letters instruct them to be good shepherds, therefore you could call them instruction manuals for priests! Although these ‘textbooks’ were written many years ago, they still have great meaning for the pastors of the Church. The reverse side of the priestly pectoral cross is inscribed with a quote from the letter to Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4: 12).

Today we heard how St. Paul gives Timothy final instructions to be watchful, to endure afflictions, to preach the Gospel and to minister. Paul notes that his death is approaching, that he worthily fulfilled his apostolic ministry, and that a crown, a reward, from God for his struggles awaits him. Timothy, and, in general, any believer who comes to love God who appeared on earth, is worthy of the same reward.

This week we will once again celebrate the appearance of God on earth amongst mankind. Last week we marked the Saviour’s birth; now we will mark His baptism, when the mystery of the Most-Holy Trinity was made manifest. Afterwards Christ began to teach. You could say, that this was the appearance of His Divinity to the whole world. Let none of us forget about this appearance, so that we are able to become inheritors, with the Apostle Paul, of those heavenly crowns prepared for us.

priest Alexis