26 January 2021

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops

Today’s memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus follows on yesterday’s feast of the Conversion of Paul. In the two options for the first reading (2 Tim 1:1-8 and Titus 1:1-5), Paul refers to these two men as his “dear” and “true” children, claiming them as his spiritual sons. The new kind of spiritual family that Paul recognizes here is rooted in Christ, who in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 3:31-35) says that “whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” In Christ, even the family—which the Church teaches is an icon of the Trinity—is relativized and expanded, since in the final accounting we are called to recognize each person as our brother or sister in Christ. Today, we can ask ourselves whether by our words and actions we acknowledge this reality, and strive to love each individual—especially those with whom we differ—as one in whom God dwells.