Daily Readings - Thu Jan 26 2023
First Reading - 2 Timothy 1.1-8 or Titus 1.1-5
2 Timothy
1Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, in accord with the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus2to Timothy, most beloved son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord3I give thanks to God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. For without ceasing I hold the remembrance of you in my prayers, night and day4desiring to see you, recalling your tears so as to be filled with joy5calling to mind the same faith, which is in you unfeigned, which also first dwelt in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and also, I am certain, in you6Because of this, I admonish you to revive the grace of God, which is in you by the imposition of my hands7For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of virtue, and of love, and of self-restraint8And so, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. Instead, collaborate with the Gospel in accord with the virtue of God
Titus
1Paul, a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God’s elect and in acknowledgment of the truth which is accompanied by piety2in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time3which, at the proper time, he has manifested by his Word, in the preaching that has been entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior4to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior5For this reason, I left you behind in Crete: so that those things which are lacking, you would correct, and so that you would ordain, throughout the communities, priests, (just as I also ordained you
Luke
1Then, after these things, the Lord also designated another seventy-two. And he sent them in pairs before his face, into every city and place where he was to arrive2And he said to them: "Certainly the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest3Go forth. Behold, I send you out like lambs among wolves4Do not choose to carry a purse, nor provisions, nor shoes; and you shall greet no one along the way5Into whatever house you will have entered, first say, ‘Peace to this house.6And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you7And remain in the same house, eating and drinking the things that are with them. For the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not choose to pass from house to house8And into whatever city you have entered and they have received you, eat what they set before you9And cure the sick who are in that place, and proclaim to them, ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two powerful messages about living out our faith with courage and trust in God. The first reading from 2 Timothy reminds us of the importance of embracing our faith heritage and standing firm against fear. Paul encourages Timothy to revive the grace of God within him, highlighting that our faith is a gift passed down through generations. This reminds us to reflect on our own faith journey and the people who have helped shape it, urging us to stay committed despite challenges.
The Gospel from Luke shifts our focus to mission and trust in God's providence. Jesus sends out 72 disciples with minimal provisions, teaching them to rely on the hospitality of others. This lesson extends to us today, encouraging us to approach our life's work and challenges with humility and trust in God's plan. Whether in our careers, families, or communities, we are called to share the Good News and serve others, trusting that our needs will be met through God's grace.
These readings unite in their call to courage and trust. Like Timothy and the disciples, we face moments of hesitation and fear, but we are reminded that God equips us with virtue, love, and self-discipline. The moral lesson here is clear: trust in God's providence and live out your faith boldly. Let us embrace our missions, whatever they may be, with confidence, knowing that God's peace and grace will guide and sustain us.