Reflection for THURSDAY, Sts. Timothy and Titus (memorial).
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar
Today's Gospel Reading
Luke 10:1-9
Your peace will rest on that man
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’
Meditation on the Word of God
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.
Good morning. Have a great day.
Happy Republic day