I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:1–5 (RSV)
St. Paul could have written this letter to Timothy last week. Humanly speaking, the Church has always been a bit of a mess. People easily forget that the Church is not the gathering of the perfect. It is a hospital for sinners who are dying of the fatal disease of sin.
From the very beginning of the Church, people have made the fatal error of thinking that once they are assured of their salvation, the Church's purpose is fulfilled. They can relax in Jesus' arms, enjoy a Sunday or two a month in worship, confident that they have all they need to enter the Kingdom.
The Word of God does not rest. Its mission in this world is not nor will it be complete until the day on which our Lord returns. St. Paul's charge to Timothy has not diminished at all. The Word must be preached. The Church cannot be silent. Our witness is far from over.
The warnings St. Paul laid out for Timothy are valid for this hour. People have excelled at creating a personal religion that gives them all they want, makes no demands, and whose God is a benevolent grandfather. The Cross of Christ is still a scandal for such folk as they cannot believe they have sinned enough to demand such a sacrifice.
The Word must be preached. The Word preaches the Law so that no one can begin to think they are without sin, not need a Savior. It is the Word that then brings the precious promise of God's grace through the dying and rising of Jesus. This Word cannot be silent nor blended into the swirl of religions we have created for ourselves.
The Word is the living Lord who redeems. The Word is the Risen Christ who will come again. We must preach Him and Him alone.