SERMON/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II STS TIMOTHY AND TITUS 26TH JANUARY 2024

SERMON/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II STS TIMOTHY AND TITUS 26TH JANUARY 2024

2Tim.1:1-8; Ps.96; Mark 4:21-25

Collaboration: a sign of Conversion

Yesterday, we celebrated the conversion of St. Paul, which we can invariably also say was the beginning of his witnessing to the gospel of Christ. Today, we celebrate Sts. Timothy and Titus who were two great companions of Paul in his missionary endeavour. So the first lesson we learn from these companions of St. Paul is that Paul did not work alone.

When we read the first reading of yesterday, we heard Paul giving account of his life prior to his encounter with the Lord on his way to Dasmascus. You will observe his continuous use of the personal pronoun “I”. Before his conversion, Paul’s activities were all about him alone.

But with the celebration of Sts. Timothy and Titus, we see that Paul never worked alone after his conversion. His encounter with the Lord on the way to Dasmascus also taught him the essence of collaboration in doing the work of God. It did not matter if he was the one that the Lord appeared to and not Timothy and Titus; what mattered was that they were expanding God’s kingdom on earth. If the language of Paul had not changed from “I” to “we” then his conversion would have been merely superficial.

When it comes to working together, we can truly testify that it is easier said than done. To maintain ones space and mind ones business seems to be best way to avoid or handle conflict situations. However safe people may feel with this method, we cannot deny the fact that it is not a form of collaboration – it is not what the Lord recommends for us. Let us implore Sts. Timothy and Titus to intercede for us so that in carrying out our Christian vocation we will seek to please God and not to exalt ourselves. Vainglory is often times the root of most conflicts.