Breaking the Word

Timothy & Titus, Friday – 26^th January 2024 – 2 Tim 1,1-8; or Titus 1,1-5; Mark 4,26-34

Chosen Children of Faith

Timothy and Titus were two of Paul’s most trusted companions. Sometimes we can mistakenly think that Paul acted alone. But the truth is that he was surrounded by many coworkers. Persons like Timothy and Titus, he even sent on special missions and gave them special assignments. Paul sent Timothy on missions to Macedonia and Corinth. He sent Titus to Dalmatia and Crete. Paul realizes that he has been instrumental in Timothy’s and Titus’s faith. Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are called the “Pastoral Letters” and give sound guidance on how to govern the Christian communities entrusted to their care. Paul is careful to list the qualities and characteristics that those appointed to be bishops, priests, and deacons should possess. He exhorts Timothy and Titus to read the Scriptures, interpret them properly, and safeguard the deposit of the faith they have received.

Conversion of St. Paul, Thursday – 25^th January 2024 – Acts 9,1-22; Mark 16,15-18

Becoming Christian in the Encounter

Today’s feast commemorates the extraordinary conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus. This experience of and encounter with the risen Christ was so important that Luke narrated it three times in the Acts of the Apostles (9,1-22; 22,3-21; 26,4-23). Although Paul himself never spoke directly of this event as a conversion, it was an event that radically changed and transformed him and his thinking. He was transformed from being a persecutor of Christ and his Church to become a herald of the Gospel and an Apostle of Christ to the Gentiles. Through his encounter with Jesus, he experienced a death and resurrection. Paul’s former way of life and existence died and a new one was born. What had been important and fundamental for him before now was counted as garbage and worthless (Phil 3,7-8). From then on he became a witness of the Resurrection of Jesus. His encounter with the Lord enlightened his mind and healed his interior blindness. He was able to see everything anew in the light of Christ. Paul now understands that he is not made righteous through his observance of the Law of Moses. Rather, righteousness and justification are based on faith in Christ. Only the grace of faith in Christ is capable of justifying everyone. Faith is not a one-time act. Rather, it consists of entrusting ourselves to Christ, being united to Christ, and being confirmed to Christ’s life, which is life (Gal 5,14). Indeed, we become Christians only if we encounter Christ.