Wrangling Over Words [Proper 23C - 2 Timothy 2:8-15]
The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Wrangling Over Words The great St. Francis, of Memorial Garden fountain fame, famously once might have said, “Preach the Gospel, and, if necessary, use words.” It’s a catchy saying – short, punchy, memorable. And it is a saying Episcopalians really want to believe a good saint actually did say because we like that it justifies us not talking to our friends about Jesus. It’s like a saintly permission slip: St. Francis said we don’t have to talk about God. When I hear a good, popular quote like this one, I sometimes wonder, “What inspired such a profound thought?” Like, there had to be something. I doubt St. Francis was just sitting at his desk one day brainstorming sassy catchphrases and this was his aha moment. And so what was it; what inspired him? At first I thought, well maybe, St. Francis was so impressed with the Christian deeds the Christians in his medieval villag...