HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS.
THEME: God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR JANUARY 26TH.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
2 Timothy 1:1-8
Psalm 95:1-3,7-8,10
Luke 10:1-9
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Yesterday was the feast of the conversion of Saint Paul. Today is the feast of two of Paul’s closest associates and co-workers, Timothy and Titus. Paul needed associates to do his work. Jesus too needed associates to do his work. That is why we find him in today’s gospel reading appointing seventy two and sending them out ahead of him; it wasn’t enough just to appoint the twelve. Indeed, as he sends out the 72, he asks them to pray to the Lord of the harvest for even more workers for the Lord’s harvest. Indeed, the Lord needs us all; we are all called to be his co-workers.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS
*WHO WAS TIMOTHY?*
According to the tradition, St. Timothy was born in Lycaonia in Asia Minor, to a mixed parentage of a Greek father and a Jewish Christian convert mother. He likely had become a Christian believer as well and met St. Paul during his second missionary journey throughout the Mediterranean region. He was a respected member of the local Christian community, and his maternal family was also noted for their faith. He was a very dedicated person and a great shepherd for the flock entrusted to him, as St. Paul placed him in Ephesus to care for the faithful there, and for many years, he tried to stop a procession of pagan idols all around the cities. He was arrested, harassed and finally stoned to death, dying as a martyr.
*WHO WAS TITUS?*
Meanwhile, St. Titus was a Greek who became a follower of St. Paul and was likely converted by the latter, as he accompanied St. Paul during his missions as a companion and interpreter. St. Titus went with St. Paul to many places including Jerusalem, Ephesus, Corinth, Macedonia and more places, gaining more experiences and wisdom along the journey. St. Titus was then left at Crete and entrusted by St. Paul to be the bishop and overseer of all the faithful in that island, because St. Paul held St. Titus in high esteem, entrusting him with the important mission of caring for the needs of the faithful in Crete. It was likely that St. Titus also died in martyrdom as well.
*CONCLUSION*
As Paul needed Timothy and Titus, and Jesus needed many workers, we need each other’s witness if the gift that God gave us in baptism is to be fanned into a living flame, in the words of today’s first reading. We ask the Lord to increase our faith so that we can be a support to one another in the living out of our baptismal calling.
Happy feast of Saints Timothy and Titus.
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