“I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6)

This third reflection in our October series invites us to view this verse not only through the lens of Scripture and the wisdom of the Church Fathers, but also through the authoritative teaching of the Church herself. Paul's words are not only a pastoral charge to Timothy, but a timeless reminder to the whole Church. Every Christian, by virtue of Baptism and Confirmation, and some through the Sacrament of Holy Orders or Matrimony, has received a gift- a divine fire meant to illuminate the world. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 1816, urges us not only to “keep the faith and live on it,” but also to “profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it.” To stir the flame, then, is to recognize that the gift we’ve received is not merely for ourselves. It must be shared, expressed, and lived out in tangible ways.

Evangelization is not an optional extra for Christians; it is the natural outpouring of an authentic faith. Pope Paul VI taught in Evangelii Nuntiandi that evangelization is not merely about words but about living in such a way that the Gospel becomes visible. It is, he wrote, a “transformative fire” passed from one heart to another. St. John Paul II, in Redemptoris Missio, went further, linking this personal call to holiness with the Church’s global mission. “Faith is strengthened when it is given to others,” he wrote (RM 2). If we want our faith to grow, we must give it away. Pope Paul VI affirmed this mission as the very identity of the Church: “The task of evangelizing all people constitutes the essential mission of the Church” (EN 14). And Pope Leo XIV, in our own time, has sounded the same call with new fervor: “Take courage! Without fear! … We need to be courageous in the witness we give, with the world and above all with life: giving life, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices in order to live out this very mission.”

This week’s Scripture readings call us to perseverance in that mission. In Exodus, Moses prays with hands lifted high as the Israelites battle Amalek. When his arms tire, Aaron and Hur support him. The victory is not only won through strength, but through enduring, prayerful intercession. In the Gospel, Jesus tells of a widow who refuses to stop petitioning a judge until justice is done. Her persistence is rewarded. Likewise, our mission requires not only zeal, but steadfastness. We are not alone in this task. The Spirit who was poured out on Timothy is the same Spirit given to us in the sacraments.

We celebrate this week the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, a man who literally stirred into flame the gift he received through martyrdom. As he journeyed toward his death, he wrote letters of encouragement, strengthening the faith of Christians in Asia Minor. He shows us that perseverance is not only possible in suffering, but powerful. His words, written from chains, still inspire the Church today.

Faith is not a relic to be kept in a display case. It is a living flame. It must be tended. In a culture that often isolates and discourages, it’s easy for our fire to grow dim. But the Church reminds us: grace is active. The Spirit is present. The mission is now.

This week, take time to pray over this question: What part of your spiritual life needs to be rekindled? Where has the flame flickered? What is God asking you to stir again? In prayer, service, family life, or courage to witness? And who near you may need help keeping their hands raised? Stir the flame. Let it burn. Persist in the mission entrusted to you.