Reflection on Today's Readings, Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Wednesday 26th January, 2022
Texts: 2 Timothy 1: 1-8 or Titus I: 1-5; Psalm 96:1-3,7-8a.10; Luke 10:1-9
We celebrate the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. St. Timothy was in charge of the church in Ephesus while St. Titus was in charge of the church in Crete. They were coworkers to St. Paul. St. Paul wrote two letters to St. Timothy and in the letters, St. Paul shows a lot of affection towards him. St. Paul calls him "my loyal child in the faith" (1Tim. 1:2) and my beloved child (2Tim. 1:2). Like St. Timothy we are to uphold loyalty; in our relationship with God and man we are to be faithful. A faithful person does not sabotage and betray the trust placed in him/her. We should also live to be beloved to God and the people around us. We become beloved by showing love. We are to love God and the people around. Being a faithful and beloved child of St. Paul, he understood his ways in Christ. This is clear in the words of St. Paul: "For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church" (1Cor. 4:17). St. Timothy could be called the man after the heart of St. Paul. We will be Christ's beloved and faithful children by knowing His ways, living them and teaching them to others for salvation of souls. Whoever knows the ways of Christ and live them is also a man after His heart. Let us, therefore, seek to know the ways of Christ by reading and meditating on God's words, Traditions, Church documents, homilies, reflections on God's words and other inspired writings. St. Paul admonished St. Timothy thus: "Untill I arrive, give attention to public reading of Scripture, to exhorting, and to teaching" (1Tim. 4:13).
Youths also have a lot to learn from St. Timothy; he was a youth but sadled with the responsibility of leading the people of God. He is an example to all youths that they have the potential to do great things, that they are leaders of now rather than tomorrow and that they should use their youthful energy for something great instead of wasting away in youthful exuberance. We also see in the life of St. Timothy that a child is a reflection of his/her parents. St. Paul shows this in his words about St. Timothy: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you."
St. Paul also calls Titus a faithful child (Titus 1:4). St. Titus must have been a hardworking man who enjoys independence. He must have also been good at conflict resolution. This is revealed in the words of St. Paul: "This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I direct you". He was sent to Crete to resolve issue and to create order. At another place St. Paul says, "So that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you" (2Cor. 8:6). St. Paul identified the gift in him and used it for salvation of souls. He was a great consolation to St. Paul. He says, "But God who consoles the downcast, consoles us by arrival of Titus" (2Cor. 7:6). Titus must have been a zealous co-worker to St. Paul. He teaches us how to work not as a duty but gladly, how to work eagerly and not for sordid money.
O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant, through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. Amen (Collect).
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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