Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 26, 2020
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
In the Gospel today, we encounter Jesus drawing crowds—preaching, healing, and casting out demons—all over Galilee. It made me wonder who draws a crowd like that today—besides rock stars, celebutantes, or the Fighting Irish on fall Saturdays? Who is big enough to inspire that kind of road trip?
When I was in college, I made a promise to myself that I would make a road trip up to four hours anytime and in any direction to catch a concert by David Wilcox, my favorite musician. That promise took me to great venues—and some random ones, too. I saw concerts by the river in Louisville, harborside in Boston, in not a few clubs around the Midwest, and even in a chapel in Holland (Michigan, that is!). I have lost count, but I would guess that all told I have taken in 15-20 performances in the days since making that promise.
What makes a road trip worth the effort? What drew a crowd in Jesus’s day—and what still draws them today—is a longing for the truth about life. The search for purpose and belonging draws together people from all sorts of places and backgrounds. Jesus’s message was a powerful one of forgiveness and inclusion—this is the “great light” seen by “the people who sit in darkness” foretold by Isaiah. This is the same truth, joyfully and freshly re-asserted, that draws crowds to Pope Francis all over the world and on social media.
What crowds do we join? Do we embrace a narrative about life that echoes Jesus’ message of healing and truth? What lengths are we willing to go to in order to find it?
On the day after we celebrate the greatest road trip of all time, the Epiphany of the Lord, I think it is still wise to ask: Who’s up for a road trip?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you sent your Son as a Light to all people living in darkness and under the shadow of death. Open our minds and hearts so that we might hear and answer Jesus’ call to conversion in our lives. May we know the healing and mercy that Jesus came to bring, and may we take up our part in proclaiming the Good News of your kingdom to everyone we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Saint of the Day
Sts. Timothy and Titus were two of St. Paul’s closest associates—he called them his “sons” in Christ—and they helped him establish and encourage new Christian communities in the early Church.
Timothy was born and raised in Galatia, which is in modern-day Turkey, and his Jewish mother embraced faith in Jesus. Timothy was raised with a firm education in Scripture, and when Paul visited his town to preach, the elders recommended Timothy to him. Paul had already dispatched his companion Barnabas on a mission and needed a helper, so he adopted the young Timothy as his assistant.
Timothy accompanied Paul in his travels and went on independent trips to offer support to communities Paul had been in touch with. He became Paul’s closest friend and most faithful follower— he was imprisoned with Paul for two years and Paul entrusted him with his most important tasks.
Paul entrusted the Christian community in Ephesus to Timothy, naming him their first bishop. The Church has preserved two of the letters Paul wrote to Timothy as part of the New Testament. Timothy was martyred around the year 97 for opposing a ritual ceremony in honor of a pagan god. The townspeople paraded around with clubs during the rite, and when Timothy confronted them, they killed him.
Titus was born a Gentile and was converted by Paul, and went on to serve as Paul’s secretary. Like Timothy, Paul sent Titus out to various Christian communities to encourage and support them. Paul eventually established Titus as bishop of Crete, which was a notoriously difficult community, and one of his letters to Titus is preserved in the New Testament. Titus spent most of his life in Crete—he died there at the age of 94.
Relics of both Timothy and Titus rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and the statue of Timothy pictured here stands above an entrance to Howard Hall on campus.
Sts. Timothy and Titus, Paul’s faithful helpers who encouraged growth in the early Church—pray for us!