Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, bishops

Today's Mass Readings

 

Preface: This week, I reflect on the Responsorial Psalm, “which is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word and holds great liturgical and pastoral importance, because it fosters meditation on the word of God.” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 61)

Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.
From Psalm 96:3

Because of Saul’s conversion to Paul yesterday, we have Timothy and Titus today. These two were both Gentiles, non-Jews, to whom Paul preached the gospel. Because Paul proclaimed God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations—or as far as he could reach—the good news, the gospel, reached the ears of Timothy and Titus, and they responded positively to it.

What was the good news that they heard? It was a message about Jesus and the meaning of all that took place. “Gospel is Paul’s personal way of expressing the significance of the Christ-event, the meaning that the person, life, ministry, passion, death, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus of Nazareth had and still has for human history and existence.” [1] It must have held great meaning and significance for Timothy and Titus for them to leave all else behind and follow Paul in the footsteps of Jesus.

Mind you, this was a Jew proclaiming a new message to Gentiles, perhaps in the words of today’s Psalm, “…the LORD is great and highly to be praised, to be feared above all gods. For the gods of the nations are naught.” (Ps. 96:4-5a, Abbey Psalms and Canticles, 2019) What I mean is, Paul must have addressed the problem of the time among the Greeks, namely polytheism. Indeed, Paul did address it, as depicted in his speech to a Greek intellectual court. (see Acts 17:22-34) Most of them responded, “We should like to hear you on this some other time.” However, he gained some followers and went on to preach in other places.

Monotheism and Resurrection may not stir today’s audience to faith either. So, as Pope Francis has said, we need to find new ways of expressing the good news of Jesus Christ.

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB

 

[1] Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J., “The Gospel in the Theology of Paul”. Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, vol. 33:4