Tuesday, January 26 2016 Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops

Reading 1 2 Tm 1:1-8

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
to Timothy, my dear child:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to God,
whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,
as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy, 
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you.

For this reason, 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.

Or Ti 1:1-5

Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ
for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones
and the recognition of religious truth,
in the hope of eternal life 
that God, who does not lie, promised before time began,
who indeed at the proper time revealed his word
in the proclamation with which I was entrusted
by the command of God our savior,
to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.

For this reason I left you in Crete
so that you might set right what remains to be done
and appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you.

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Alleluia See Mt 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mk 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply,
“Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

REFLECTION 

BE A TITUS

"Titus, my own true child..." –Titus 1:4

St. Titus the apostle is seen in the New Testament as one who brings peace and unity. Titus accompanied Paul to Jerusalem (Gal 2:1) when Paul had a council with the Jewish apostles for the purpose of submitting his preaching content "for their scrutiny" (Gal 2:2). Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, and Titus, one of Paul's Gentile converts to Christianity, was living proof of the fruit of Paul's ministry (Gal 2:3). Titus' living faith was a witness to the Jerusalem apostles, who stood united with Paul, approved him, and re-commissioned him to "go to the Gentiles" (Gal 2:9).

Paul wrote a severe letter of correction to the young Christians at Corinth. Because this was an explosive situation, Paul chose Titus, the man of peace and unity, to deliver this letter in person to Corinth. After Titus departed, Paul grew anxious for news of the impact of his letter. Paul couldn't minister to the people of Troas, despite an "open door" to preach there, because Titus hadn't returned yet with news (2 Cor 2:12-13). Paul was "low in spirit," but God gave him "strength with the arrival of Titus" (2 Cor 7:6). Titus found joy in the repentance of the Corinthians (2 Cor 7:13) and gave Paul joy by his unifying ministry in Corinth. Titus' heart embraced the Corinthians with an expanding love (2 Cor 7:15). No wonder Paul sent Titus to make peace. Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt 5:9).

PRAYER:	Father, make me an instrument of Your peace.
PROMISE:	"With the strength which comes from God bear your share of the hardship which the gospel entails." –2 Tm 1:8
PRAISE:	"Thanks be to God, Who has put an equal zeal for you in the heart of Titus!" (2 Cor 8:16)