Wednesday, January 26, 2022

 Memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus, bishops

(II Timothy 1:1-8; Mark 3:22-30)

The Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus follows the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul with good reason.   The two men assisted Paul in his missionary efforts.  Timothy accompanied Paul on part of his so-called second missionary journey.  He also stayed with Paul in Corinth for over a year.  Later Paul placed Timothy’s name alongside his own as the authors of the Second Letter to the Corinthians.  This same letter speaks of Titus as Paul’s emissary.  He carried a letter, now lost, from Paul to the Corinthians.  In Second Corinthians Paul calls Titus, “my partner and co-worker with you.”

A few facts about Timothy and Titus can be gleaned from the New Testament.  Timothy was the son of a Greek father and Jewish mother.  Paul permitted him to be circumcised because of his Jewish heritage.  On the other hand, Paul insisted that Titus not be circumcised because he was of completely Gentile origins.  More significant than their personal stories is what the references to the two men in the New Testament reveal about Paul.  They indicate that Paul was hardly a one-person show.  Indeed, in part his ability to collaborate made his evangelizing efforts successful.  He also felt great affection for his associates.  Finally, he was magnanimous enough to mention them as contributors to his writing.

With the Church being hierarchical, some see it as non-collaborative.  But the Church since apostolic times has utilized the gifts of all its members.  Collaboration promotes the development of these gifts.  In the synod that Pope Francis has called for this year and next year collaboration will be paramount.  Clergy and lay persons will listen to each other’s experiences and hopes.