2 Tim 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 / Luke 10:1-9
Introduction
Today, we celebrate two close associates of the apostle Paul. Paul put them in charge of Christian communities and wrote letters to them to tell them what is expected of leaders of Christian communities, especially how they should be servants and models of the people entrusted to them.
Instead of sending the disciples in pairs, if Jesus had sent one disciple per town, he would have covered 72 locations, rather than, say 36. Why two by two? Perhaps Jesus did so to convey a fundamental Gospel message: Christian faith is to be no solo affair, but a collective act. Christian worship and practice are to be exercised in, with, and through the community.
There is no Christian without community. Today we are celebrating the feast of two saints together—Timothy and Titus. No one works alone for the Gospel. Perhaps it is easier and far more convenient to be a solo Christian, for it is often difficult to work with others, especially when their idiosyncrasies, differences of opinion, and attitudinal problems conflict with ours. Jesus had his frustrating moments with his disciples, but he chose to have them share in his work rather than do it all by himself. For, in painstakingly dealing with such difficult moments in community, we learn to be an authentic Christian community.
How willing are you to exercise your vocational ministry in
your family or workplace or in the church in shared mission?
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One of the ways to motivate people to take on higher
responsibilities is to recognize the contributions they are already making and
the talents they have. They need to be affirmed of whatever gifts that God has
bestowed upon them so that what they have and what they are doing with it can
be reinforced. When St. Paul chose Timothy and Titus to be bishops of their
respective churches, he was not looking merely at their gifts and talents.
In fact, Timothy and Titus were rather young to be the bishops of the churches.
Rather, St. Paul recognized the faith that they had.
And especially for Timothy, St. Paul reminded him of the sincere faith which
was handed down from his grandmother and his mother. St. Paul affirmed Timothy
that he saw this faith in him, and that was sufficient for him to lead the
church that was entrusted to him. Here, it is good to remember that faith is
not so much taught as it is caught. The faith that we have is
"caught" from others - our parents, our teachers, our friends, etc. Hence,
we have a faith to share, a faith that others are waiting to catch, so that
they too will come to know God and believe in Him.
Saints Timothy and Titus’ Story
What we know from the New Testament of Timothy’s life makes
it sound like that of a modern harried bishop. He had the honor of being a
fellow apostle with Paul, both sharing the privilege of preaching the gospel
and suffering for it.
Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother named Eunice.
Being the product of a “mixed” marriage, he was considered illegitimate by the
Jews. It was his grandmother, Lois, who first became Christian. Timothy was a
convert of Paul around the year 47 and later joined him in his apostolic work.
He was with Paul at the founding of the Church in Corinth. During the 15 years
he worked with Paul, he became one of his most faithful and trusted friends. He
was sent on difficult missions by Paul—often in the face of great disturbance in
local churches which Paul had founded.
Timothy was with Paul in Rome during the latter’s house
arrest. At some period Timothy himself was in prison (Hebrews 13:23). Paul
installed him as his representative at the Church of Ephesus.
Timothy was comparatively young for the work he was doing.
Several references seem to indicate that he was timid. And one of Paul’s most
frequently quoted lines was addressed to him: “Stop drinking only water, but
have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1
Timothy 5:23).
Titus has the distinction of being a close friend and
disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary. He was Greek, apparently from
Antioch. Even though Titus was a Gentile, Paul would not let him be forced to
undergo circumcision at Jerusalem. Titus is seen as a peacemaker,
administrator, great friend. Paul’s second letter to Corinth affords an insight
into the depth of his friendship with Titus, and the great fellowship they had
in preaching the gospel.
When Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth,
Titus was the bearer of Paul’s severe letter and was successful in smoothing
things out. Paul writes he was strengthened not only by the arrival of Titus
but also “by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in regard to you,
as he told us of your yearning, your lament, your zeal for me, so that I
rejoiced even more…. And his heart goes out to you all the more, as he
remembers the obedience of all of you, when you received him with fear and
trembling” (2 Corinthians 7:7a, 15).
The “Letter to Titus” addresses him as the
administrator of the Christian community on the island of Crete, charged with
organizing it, correcting abuses, and appointing presbyter-bishops.
Reflection
In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church:
great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet
always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of
daily life: the need for charity and patience in “quarrels with others, fears
within myself,” as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them.
At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute
comes, “hurry to me.”
