The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to be thankful and offer encouragement to the people in our lives who share goodness, peace, and love.
The reading from the Second Book of Timothy offers Thanksgiving and Encouragement.
* [1:1] The promise of life in Christ Jesus: that God grants through union with Christ in faith and love; cf. Col 3:4; 1 Tm 4:8.
* [1:3] As my ancestors did: this emphasizes the continuity of Judaism and Christianity; for a similar view, see Rom 9:3–5; Phil 3:4–6.
* [1:4–5] Purportedly written from prison in Rome (2 Tm 1:8, 17; 4:6–8) shortly before the writer’s death, the letter recalls the earlier sorrowful parting from Timothy, commending him for his faith and expressing the longing to see him again.
* [1:6] The gift of God: the grace resulting from the conferral of an ecclesiastical office. The imposition of my hands: see note on 1 Tm 4:14.
* [1:8] Do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord: i.e., of preaching and suffering for the sake of the gospel. (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)
The alternate reading from the Book of Titus describes Titus in Crete.
* [1:1–4] On the epistolary form, see note on Rom 1:1–7. The apostolate is the divinely appointed mission to lead others to the true faith and through it to eternal salvation (1–3). (Titus, CHAPTER 1, n.d.)
Psalm 96 offers praise to God Who comes in Judgement.
* [Psalm 96] A hymn inviting all humanity to praise the glories of Israel’s God (Ps 96:1–3), who is the sole God (Ps 96:4–6). To the just ruler of all belongs worship (Ps 96:7–10); even inanimate creation is to offer praise (Ps 96:11–13). This Psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Is 40–55, as does Ps 98. Another version of the Psalm is 1 Chr 16:23–33. (Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB, n.d.)
The CCCB Gospel selection from Luke describes The Mission of the Seventy.
* [10:1–12] Only the Gospel of Luke contains two episodes in which Jesus sends out his followers on a mission: the first (Lk 9:1–6) is based on the mission in Mk 6:6b–13 and recounts the sending out of the Twelve; here in Lk 10:1–12 a similar report based on Q becomes the sending out of seventy-two in this gospel. The episode continues the theme of Jesus preparing witnesses to himself and his ministry. These witnesses include not only the Twelve but also the seventy-two who may represent the Christian mission in Luke’s own day. Note that the instructions given to the Twelve and to the seventy-two are similar and that what is said to the seventy-two in Lk 10:4 is directed to the Twelve in Lk 22:35.
* [10:1] Seventy[-two]: important representatives of the Alexandrian and Caesarean text types read “seventy,” while other important Alexandrian texts and Western readings have “seventy-two.”
* [10:4] Carry no money bag…greet no one along the way: because of the urgency of the mission and the singlemindedness required of missionaries, attachment to material possessions should be avoided and even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task.
* [10:5] First say, ‘Peace to this household’: see notes on Lk 2:14 and Mt 10:13.
* [10:6] A peaceful person: literally, “a son of peace.” (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)
Mike Cherney offers a prayer today for himself and for those who wish to lead.
Dear Lord,
I think of how often I miss the value of things that are seemingly insignificant.
I must admit how often I have wrongly given respect and consent to people of wealth and power.
Forgive me for the opportunities that I have missed by not recognizing the true prophets.
I think of how often I miss the value of things that require patience.
I was blessed in many aspects receiving things in disproportionately short order.
I came to expect things when I wanted them, more like an emperor instead of a steward.
I even confess to buying lottery tickets, not as a shortcut to personal wealth,
but as a pathway to funding projects to make the world a better place in my time frame.
Grant me patience and trust that Your Kingdom will come. (Cherney, 2024)
The Daily Scripture net reflection is on the USCCB Gospel selection from Mark 4:30-34
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Timothy 1:1-8 asks “How can we, like Timothy and Titus, respond generously to the Lord?”
Like Timothy and Titus, you have an important part to play in the Church. So recall God’s goodness and receive his strength today. That way, whatever God is asking of you, you’ll be equipped to respond generously.
“Thank you, Lord, for strengthening me and leading me in service to others and to the Church.” (Meditation on 2 Timothy 1:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes the developed ecclesiology in the Pastoral Letters of Timothy and Titus that suggests an author other than Paul. The imitation of important authors was an accepted technique in the first centuries. Friar Jude notes the encouragement to Timothy to “buck up” and to Titus as an overseer or bishop in Crete.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Author Cole Arthur Riley who describes how she has faced a lifetime of fear, ultimately praying to God for restful steadiness.
This quote from James L. Farmer is at the front of my journal: “Courage, after all, is not being unafraid, but doing what needs to be done in spite of fear.” [1] The implication, of course, is that if you’re not scared, it’s not courage. If there is any bravery in me, it is in my refusal to let fear eclipse my imagination for anything other than pain. To maintain imagination for both the beautiful and the terrible is to marry prudence and hope.(Riley, 2024)
Arthur Riley offers this breath practice:
INHALE: I will not be silenced by fear.
EXHALE: A quivering voice is still sacred.
INHALE: God, my soul trembles.
EXHALE: Steady me in your arms.
INHALE: I will meet this fear with rest.
EXHALE: God, steady me in your arms. (Riley, 2024)
We pause with gratitude for all the labourers in God’s field who have helped and inspired us to attend to the prompting of the Spirit to share our gifts and talents to improve the lives of the people in our environment.
References
Cherney, M. (2024, January 26). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/012624.html
Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10
Meditation on 2 Timothy 1:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/01/26/882897/
Psalms, PSALM 96 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/96?1
Riley, C. A. (2024, January 26). Meeting Fear with Rest — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/meeting-fear-with-rest/
Titus, CHAPTER 1. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/titus/1
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 26, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/1?1
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