Daily Readings - Fri Jan 26 2018

First Reading - 2 Timothy 1.1-8 or Titus 1.1-5

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,²To Timothy, my beloved child:Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.³I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.⁴As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,⁷for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

Titus

Chapter 1

¹Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,²in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began³and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;⁴To Titus, my true child in a common faith:Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.⁵This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you--

Luke

Chapter 10

¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.²And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.³Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.⁴Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.⁵Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!'⁶And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.⁷And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.⁸Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.⁹Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter powerful messages about faith, trust, and the call to share God's love with the world. The first reading from 2 Timothy reminds us of the importance of living out our faith with courage and confidence. Paul, writing to Timothy, encourages him to embrace the gift of faith that has been passed down through his family and to not be afraid to witness to the Gospel. This letter, written during a time of great challenge for the early Church, emphasizes that our faith is a treasure to be cherished and shared, even in the face of adversity. The Gospel from Luke takes us into the heart of Jesus' mission. Jesus sends out 72 disciples ahead of him, instructing them to go out into the world with simplicity and trust in God's providence. He tells them not to be burdened by material possessions or distractions, but instead to focus on the task at hand: proclaiming the Kingdom of God and bringing healing to those in need. This mission is not just for the disciples of Jesus' time; it is a call to all of us to step out in faith, trusting that God will provide what we need to fulfill our purpose. These readings remind us that living as followers of Christ requires boldness, humility, and a willingness to rely on God's grace. Just as Timothy is urged to stir into flame the gifts of faith and ministry, we too are called to use our talents and resources to serve others and share the Good News. Like the disciples sent out in pairs, we are called to move beyond our comfort zones and trust in God's plan, even when the journey seems uncertain. Let us ask ourselves: How can we live more simply, trust more deeply, and share more generously the love of God with those around us? May we, like Timothy and the disciples, be faithful stewards of the gifts we have received, and may our lives bear witness to the power and joy of the Gospel.