2 Timothy 1:1-8
Mark 4:21-25
In his public ministry, Christ our Lord dedicated himself to preaching God’s kingdom to the people. Using parables, Christ taught them that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He encourages them to love as He loves them and to abide in him as children of the light. Like Jesus in the gospel story, St. Paul in his letters to Timothy and Titus, we need someone to call us to share our light with others. St. Paul—always on a mission to evangelize-often circled back to those nascent faith communities that often struggled as all human communities do. Very often he had to encourage the local leaders, like Timothy and Titus, to lead by setting themselves on a lampstand for their light to shine. The two secretaries Paul later became bishops. Timothy, the bishop of Ephesus, and Titus the bishop of Crete respectively.
Just like Jesus, St Paul, Sts. Timothy and Titus devoted themselves to the mission of evangelization. Spreading the mission and the word of God. We too must allow the light of God to shine through us. Paul had “charged” both of these young ministers we celebrate today Timothy and Titus to do a job, spread the word, and stir up the desire among people to serve Christ. Like soldiers sent on a mission, these were their marching orders. Although we have been told not to brag, we can all point to those moments when we put the lamp under the bed and tub and did not allow God’s light to shine. At one time or the other, someone saw some positive vibe in us that we could not see for ourselves. Several times, others challenged us to move beyond the safety of our small world and to take a leap of faith. Still, others asked us to help with a plan that we would not have on our own volunteered for.
This is a confirmation that we are not alone on our sojourn to heaven. The kingdom of light lies in you though not yet attained in its fullness. We should be grateful for how others encouraged us to uncover the light within, those gifts that are ours to Share. Let us remove the lamp from under the basket or from under our bed. Let us light up the mission of Christ that has been entrusted to us once more. May the light of Christ lights up our way. Amen
STIR UP THE GIFTS! SPREAD THE WORD AND SERVE THE LORD!
Fr Joseph Osho
