Word to the Wise
Friday, January 26, 2024 - Jan. 26 - Sts. Timothy and Titus, bishops
[2 Tim 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 and Luke 10:1-9]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. [2 Timothy]
JANUARY 26 STS. TIMOTHY AND TITUS
St. Paul did not accomplish all that he did simply by his own efforts. He had some faithful co-workers who carried on his mission in places where he established communities of believers. We celebrate two of those faithful disciples today, in large part because they are mentioned prominently in the letters that bear their names. The missal offers a choice between the two in regard to the first scripture. The passage above is taken from the Second Letter to Timothy. It amounts to a "pep talk" of encouragement to a trusted associate to not let faith and mission grow tepid or cold in the face of the continued difficulties and challenges.
In the past, I have preached retreats for priests, deacons and religious sisters in which I have used these lines: "For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control..." and "[B]ear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength that comes from God." Both Timothy and Titus were placed in positions of leadership with all the challenges that came from proclaiming a new faith in the midst of polytheistic and morally chaotic cultures. The hardships that came with their responsibility could only be endured with the "strength that comes from God." To that I can only say, "AMEN!" My own experience in positions of leadership in my Dominican province continually confirmed to me the truth of St. Paul's encouragement. Leadership in any Christian community requires the awareness of the "Spirit of power and love and self-control" that enables a leader to "hang in there!" But all of us who have been baptized and confirmed have received that same Spirit and are called to bear our "share of the hardship for the Gospel." St. Paul and Sts. Timothy and Titus are cheering for us! AMEN