January 26, 2017

Timothy and Titus

January 26, 2017:  Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops

Find 13 connections with today?
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Reconciliation is a gift from Christ.  As a result of this gift, each person is called to proclaim the Gospel of reconciliation in word and deed, to live and bear witness to a reconciled life.  St. Paul made it clear that reconciliation requires sacrifice and a revolution of our way of living, laying down our lives as Jesus did, living for and in Christ, not for ourselves and our own interests.  Only when we lose our lives for love of him do we save them.
It's an invitation not to be caught up with programs, plans, and fashions but to focus on the Cross where we discover our program of life.  The Cross invites us to leave isolation and self-absorption behind to see the Spirit at work outside our familiar surroundings.  Reconciliation will only be achieved when we acknowledge each other’s gifts and learn from one another, with humility and docility, without waiting for others to learn first.
Looking back helps purify our memory, but fixation on past wrongs can paralyze us and prevent us from living now.  Draw strength from memory and recall what the good things the Lord has given us, then leave the past behind to follow Jesus today and live a new life in him.  Let him unveil a future where divisions are overcome and believers will be fully and visibly one.
Our prayer for Christian unity is a sharing in Jesus’ own prayer.  Never tire of asking God for this gift. Press forward with hope in our journey of reconciliation and dialogue, encouraged by the witness of all who suffered, and all who still do, unified in suffering for Jesus' name.  Take advantage of every occasion to pray, proclaim, love, and serve together, especially serving the poor and neglected.
Read
1st-century lamp
  • 2 Tm 1:1-8  Paul, Apostle of Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child:  I worship God with a clear conscience and pray for you constantly, recalling your faith.  Stir into flame your gift from God.  God gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-control.  Don't be ashamed of your testimony or of me, but bear your hardships with God-given strength.
  • Ti 1:1-5  Paul, Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of faith, truth, and eternal life, to Titus, my child in faith:  grace and peace from God and Christ.  I left you so you might set things right and appoint presbyters...
  • Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a, 10  "Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations."  Sing to the Lord.  Tell the nations the Lord is king; me made the world and governs with equity.
      • Mk 4:21-25  Is a lamp to be placed under a basket?  All that is hidden will come to light.  The measure you measure will be measured out to you.  Those who have will be given more; the others will lose the little they have.
      Reflect
        • Creighton:  The Sea of Galilee receives from the Jordan River and has an outlet.  Our outlet is placing our lamp on the stand, as Jesus calls us to do.  If we hide our lamp, we become like the Dead Sea the Jordan runs into but with no outlet; we stagnate and die.
        • One Bread, One Body:  "The brotherhood and sisterhood":  Paul loved Timothy and Titus and prayed for them constantly.  Timothy loved Paul so much that he cried when they parted.  When Paul was stressed, he was strengthened by Titus' arrival; he so depended on him that he didn't preach in Troas because he didn't find him there.  Paul, Timothy, and Titus loved one another and other Christians so much that they finally laid down their lives for Jesus and each other.  Our baptismal brotherhood and sisterhood is as deep a relationship people can have.  In baptism, we can be united with other Christians as Jesus and the Father are united.
        • Passionist:  A single lamp or candle can dispel darkness.  At our baptism, our parents and godparents received a candle lit from the Easter Candle with the exhortation to keep the light burning:  "Your child, enlightened by Christ, is to walk as a child of the light, with the flame of faith always alive."  We light a lamp to help guide our way and avoid stumbling.  The light of Christ burns in you in your joy, the kindness you extend, the love you share, when you thank, console, or just call someone.  The light of Christ in you can light others' lives.  Share your light!
        • DailyScripture.net:  "The measure you give":  Lamps enable people to see and work in the dark and avoid stumbling.  The Jews understood 'light' as an expression of God's beauty, truth, and goodness. God's grace not only illumines our darkness but also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace.  We're to live in the light of Christ's truth and love.  Just as natural light illumines darkness, so the light of Christ shines in our hearts and enables us to see God's kingdom.  We're to be light-bearers of Christ so others may see the truth of the gospel.  We can try to hide things from others, ourselves, and God, but God knows and sees all.   Listen and follow God, know true joy and freedom, and shine to those who hunger for God.
        • Universalis:  Paul converted Timothy and Titus; they became his companions and helpers.  Paul entrusted the Ephesus Christians to Timothy and the Crete Christians to Titus.  His "pastoral epistles" have advice for Timothy, Titus, and us.
        Dress legend
        • 'OneLife LA' button:  Pray for and defend human life; '1' for vespers for Christian unity
        • 'Fire' pin:  Fan into flame the gift of God you have... (1st reading)
        • 'Hands' tie:  ...through imposition of hands (1st reading)
        • 'Peace sign' tie bar:  "Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus" (both 1st readings)
        • 'Bear' tie bar:  'Bear' your share of hardship for the gospel (1st reading)
        • 'Olympics' tie pin:  Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations (psalm)
        • 'Musical note' tie pin:  Sing to the Lord a new song (psalm)
        • 'Crown' tie bar:  Tell the nations the Lord is king (psalm)
        • 'Eyeball' tie pin:  I yearn to see you again (1st reading)
        • 'Love' suspenders:  God gave us a spirit of power, love, and self-control (1st reading)
        • 'Lights' tie:  Don't you place lamps on lampstands?  Everything will come to light. (gospel)
        • 'Ruler' tie bar:  The measure you measure will be measured to you (gospel)
        • White shirt:  Liturgical color of today's memorial
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