Daily Gospel Reflection
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January 26, 2023
Jesus said to his disciples,
“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket
or under a bed,
and not to be placed on a lampstand?
For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.”
He also told them, “Take care what you hear.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
To the one who has, more will be given;
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
The first few verses of today’s gospel, coupled with the parable preceding, provide a clear message to the followers of Jesus: It’s not enough to simply hear the words of Jesus; we are called to use our talents and gifts to act on what we hear. We bring God’s light to the world by acting on what we hear.
As I settle into middle age, this message has become urgent for many of my friends and me. I have had more than one conversation in recent years in which we wonder whether we have truly chosen the right career, one in which we use our talents and gifts to bring God’s light to the world.
As young adults, we were confident we would do something to better the world. But now, as we look backward and forward, we are unsure. One thing we are clear about is that our time to implement today’s gospel message, at least through our careers, is waning.
Overwhelmed by the urgency, we can easily lose track of the fact that we can bring the light of God to others daily without major life or career changes.
I know I can bring more warmth and patience to my interactions with a parent in the early stages of dementia. I can assure my nephew of my unconditional love for him even as he makes an unwise decision for the umpteenth time. I can remember to regularly call relatives who have recently lost their lifelong companions, assuring them they are not alone and their beloved is not forgotten.
With God’s help, we can all bring the light of God to those who most need it, regardless of our career choice or age.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, through the incarnation of your Son, the Church bears the divine light of the annointed one. Let each of us bear the infinite measure: Christ alive in us. Overflowing with infinite grace, may we offer more than our life’s work. Give us courage to share the living Christ for all to see, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. 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!