January 26, Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, bishops
Daily readings: 2 Timothy 1:1–8, Mark 4:26–34
The first reading is a wonderful catechesis for young missionaries and a worthy homage paid to Timothy, his grandma Lois and his mother Eunice for the faith that they have been living and constantly imparting. The author reminds this young bishop of the day when Paul laid his hands on him and consecrated him to God and His mission. This ministry is a gift of God.
Paul is convinced that Timothy lives with sincere faith, and therefore he reminds him to “fan into flame the gift of God.” Since Timothy has received the spirit of power, he should not be ashamed to join with him in suffering. He should not be embarrassed to testify to the Lord. It is a call for Timothy to face the task of preaching the gospel with courage. He should be proud of Paul, who is a prisoner of the Gospel.
In the Gospel reading of today, Jesus likens the kingdom of God to a seed and its steady growth process. A seed is not so impressive, nor does its laborious growth attract attention. But the seed has its own existence and vitality. While the farmer waits for its growth, it begins to sprout and grow slowly, unnoticeably and steadily. It is because the seed contains within itself the power to generate. This is how the Kingdom of God ushers in. Apart from sowing, the only human activity in the parable is waiting in faith, confident of its harvest in due season. The harvest often symbolizes the arrival of God’s kingdom, especially the judgement.
The second parable in the Gospel reading of today is the parable of the mustard seed. That it is the tiniest seed is proverbial in Palestine. It is small but has the ability to grow larger to become home to the birds of the air. It is an allusion to the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s chosen people (cf. Ps 104:12; Ezek 17:23; 31:6; Dan 4:9–21). God’s kingdom has the most insignificant beginnings, invisible to human eyes.
Holy Mother Church today celebrates the feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops and Martyrs of the early church. Both were disciples and trusted close associates of St. Paul, who calls them his sons in faith. They are also the recipients of Paul’s pastoral letters.
Call to Action for Catholic Living: Both Timothy and Titus are models of leadership roles in the early Church. They are known for their faith and faithful commitment to the Church. How do you express your fidelity to God?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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