Those Who Came Before
Jan 26: Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus
Today’s readings are about reaching out to others, not just in space but in time. We look back to those who helped us, and prepare others for the future when we’re gone.
Reading 1
2 Tm 1:1-8
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and that I am confident lives also in you.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God.
Or
Ti 1:1-5
Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God's chosen ones and the recognition of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before time began, who indeed at the proper time revealed his word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted by the command of God our savior, to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.
For this reason I left you in Crete so that you might set right what remains to be done and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.
I wanted to show both readings (although you’d only hear one in mass today) because part of what’s important is how similar they are.
Paul identifies himself as a follower of Christ, and calls both Titus and Timothy his children. Obviously, he’s being figurative, since he also talks about Timothy’s mother and grandmother. But further, he mentions his own ancestors in Timothy and “God’s chosen ones” in Titus. He’s connecting them all in the great continuity of God’s salvation plan.
Paul, in prison and awaiting execution in his letter to Timothy, probably suspects Jesus isn’t coming back immediately. Which is why he instructs both Timothy and Titus to appoint new bishops and priests, so the work can continue.
Living in our present time, because all of history has led to this moment, it can feel like we’re at the end of the story. But that’s true for everyone at every time. Paul, who witnessed Jesus Christ himself, didn’t see it that way. He looked ahead, built a church that’s lasted 2,000 years, so far. It’ll keep going, as long as we keep following his example.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Paul may as well have cited this Psalm in his letters. He sought universal salvation, as Jesus taught him. He wants all nations to know about God.
Alleluia
Lk 4:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor
and to proclaim liberty to captives.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus obviously wants us to help the poor and free the (unjustly) captive, as He said so at several points in His ministry. But it’s equally clear he doesn’t want us to stop at physical needs. We should be proclaiming the Good News, as well.
Gospel
Lk 10:1-9
The Lord Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his pay. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'"
Even as the apostle to the gentiles, Paul wasn’t the start of the Apostolic succession. It all begins with Jesus. Here, he sends out disciples1 to every town, in advance of his coming.
Jesus really wants them to hurry, to; that’s why they’re not supposed to bring any money or sandals or even talk to anyone on the way. They have one job—preach the coming of Jesus.
They’re allowed to eat, because one, they have to, but two, it’s a sign of friendship to accept another’s hospitality. He even gives them the authority to cure the sick, as a sign of the coming of the Kingdom.
These are ways the family of God2 can grow.
Apparently, the number is unclear. Some sources say 70, others 72. Jews like multiples of 12, though, so I’m inclined to believe it’s the latter.
Paul calls Titus and Timothy his children, remember?