The watch list

The New Testament is often characterized as being full of nothing but love and peace and universal acceptance.

However, in today's first reading (2 Timothy 4:10-17b), we hear St. Paul writing to St. Timothy about something that may seem to sound like a "watch list."

Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm;
the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

You too be on guard against him,
for he has strongly resisted our preaching.

As followers of Christ, we must indeed follow the ways of true peace and true love, yet we must also be prudent as we go through the world spreading this Gospel of love, peace, and truth.

Not everyone will heed or even respect our message and some will even try to sabotage us.

We need to be on our guard: using well the gifts of intellect and spirit God gave us, placing opponents in the hands of our just and merciful God, and going forward in obedience to the Lord who watches over us with his love.