Daily Catholic Reflection: January 26, 2021, Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops

2 Timothy 1: 1-8,

PSALM 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a. 10,

Luke 10:1-9 Full Readings

Saints Timothy and Titus

 Becoming Part of God's Family 

Brethren, today we celebrate the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus who were close associates of Saint Paul in his various missionary journeys. Through his pastoral letters to these two, Saint Paul shows that affirming the lives of his followers and associates usually brings out the best qualities in them. Even the best needs encouragement, renewal, prayer and perseverance. Today’s lesson to all Christians is that each of us should be a source of inspiration to others. The witness of these two saints made them part of the family of God.

Today's Gospel Brethren, gives us the way of becoming part of God's family. It is only through *doing the Will of God.* When the mother of Jesus and his brothers and sisters came looking for him, he told the crowd that his mother and brethren are those who do the Will of God. This means that if we do the Will of God we can become mother, brothers and sisters of Christ.

Brethren, when we do the will of God, we become members of God's family, mothers, sisters, or brothers of Christ, with one Father, God who is in heaven. Through baptism, we have become “members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19). We share a family name: Christian. As part of this family, we are called to do God’s will and “love each other like brothers and sisters” (Romans 12:10). All Christians therefore are our mothers, sisters and brothers. 

Each time we come together for Mass,  we come for our family meal. We hear our stories proclaimed in the Scriptures. We pray together and sing our family songs. We affirm that we are one family of brothers and sisters in many ways. 

Firstly in the Confiteor, we confess to and ask God and our brothers and sisters to pray for us: “I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned…” Secondly, when we pray The Lord’s Prayer, we affirm that we are children of God: “Our Father, who art in heaven…” Finally, we share the bread of life, our Communion with God, and with one another: The Holy Eucharist. Christ feeds us himself and we become “one body and one Spirit” in him (Ephesians 4:4).

An early Christian martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives are the saints" - namely those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and adopted as sons and daughters of God. Those who have been baptized into Jesus Christ and who live as his disciples enter into a new family, a family of "saints" here on earth and in heaven. Jesus changes the order of relationships and shows that true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. Our true family is the family of God and that's why nothing should stop us from serving God and doing the will of the Father. 

Do you want to become a mother of Jesus? Become a brother or sister of Jesus? If Yes do the will of the Father. We should all strive to become part of God's family by doing the will of the Father which involves a relationship of trust, affection, commitment, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, thoughtfulness, compassion, mercy, helpfulness, encouragement, support, strength, protection, and so many other qualities that bind people together in mutual love and unity. We have to show love to each other as Christians the way you show it to your mother or sister or father or brother. It's when we do this that we will become true members of the family of God.

Our invitation today is to strive each day to remain members of God's family. If in any way we fail, let us come back with a contrite heart and God will receive us back as Micah pleaded to God to give a second chance to Israelites, so should we plead for a second chance when we fail as members of God family. Reflect today on how you have lived as a member of God's family by showing Love and mercy to your brothers and sister. Reflect on the whole book of Ephesians where St Paul encourages us to live in love as brothers and sisters. (eg 5:1)

Let us Pray

O my God, you are our Heavenly Father. Jesus, you are my brother. Mary, you are my mother. Help me to see all the baptized as truly my brothers and sisters. Help me to work alongside them to build your church. Amen.

Be blessed.