Daily Readings - Sat Jan 26 2019
First Reading - 2 Timothy 1.1-8 or Titus 1.1-5
2 Timothy
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,2To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
Titus
1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;4To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.5For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
Luke
1After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.2Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.3Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.4Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.5And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.6And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.7And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.8And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:9And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live out our faith with courage and trust in God’s providence. In the first reading from 2 Timothy, St. Paul encourages Timothy to “stir into flame the gift of God” that he has received through the imposition of hands. Paul reminds Timothy of the faith that has been passed down through his family and urges him not to be ashamed of the Gospel, even in the face of persecution or hardship. This passage emphasizes the importance of perseverance and boldness in living out our faith, trusting that God’s grace will sustain us.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends out 72 disciples ahead of him to prepare the way for his visit to various towns. He instructs them to travel lightly, without unnecessary provisions, and to rely on the hospitality of those they meet. Jesus also warns them that they will face challenges, likening them to “lambs among wolves.” Yet, despite these challenges, they are to proclaim the nearness of the kingdom of God and bring healing to those they encounter. This passage highlights the importance of trust in God’s providence and the need for generosity and openness in sharing the Gospel.
Both readings remind us that living as disciples requires courage, humility, and trust in God’s plan. Like Timothy, we are called to fan into flame the gifts we have received and to witness to the Gospel without fear. Like the 72 disciples, we are called to go out into the world with simplicity and trust, relying on God’s grace to sustain us. In our daily lives, this means being open to the opportunities God gives us to share our faith, whether through words or actions, and to trust that He will provide for us as we do so. Let us ask for the grace to live with the same boldness and generosity, knowing that the kingdom of God is near.