20260126 SUPPORTING EACH OTHER IN THE FAITH AND IN OUR MISSION
26 January 2026, Monday, Ss Timothy and Titus
First reading | 2 Timothy 1:1-8 |
Fan into a flame the gift God gave you
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well.
That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.
The following reading is proper to the memorial, and must be used even if you have otherwise chosen to use the ferial readings.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10 |
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
Proclaim his help day by day,
tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness.
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
Gospel Acclamation | Ps24:4,5 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Teach me your paths, my God,
make me walk in your truth.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.2Tim1:10 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Our Saviour Jesus Christ abolished death
and he has proclaimed life through the Good News.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 3:22-30 |
A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.
‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
Gospel | Luke 10:1-9 |
Your peace will rest on that man
The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’
SUPPORTING EACH OTHER IN THE FAITH AND IN OUR MISSION
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [2 TIM 1:1-8 ; PS 96:1-3, 7-8, 10; LK 10:1-9 or MK 3:22-30]
In the Gospel, Jesus said, “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” The irony of this statement is that, even with these few labourers, there is often a lack of support from the Church and the Christian community. This makes the mission of the Church even more difficult to accomplish. Indeed, Jesus reminded the seventy-two disciples whom He sent out with this warning: “Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Who could these wolves be, if not those opposed to the Gospel of Christ? Yet, some of these wolves are unfortunately found within the Christian community itself, for they are the ones who hinder the work of the Gospel.
The sad reality of the Church is that many Catholics journey alone in their faith. Many are not connected to the community, and those who are within the community often encounter so much politicking that they eventually give up on it. More often than not, they feel that the Church is not supporting them or accompanying them in their struggles. They feel used, but not fed or nurtured. This experience is not limited to ordinary Catholics; Church leaders, too, often feel very much alone in their journey. They sense a lack of support from their own leaders and members. Frequently, they feel misunderstood, and experience the community as indifferent to their needs and difficulties.
Loneliness in faith, loneliness in our sufferings, loneliness in ministry, and loneliness in leadership were never what Jesus intended for His disciples. That is why, in today’s Gospel, we read that He sent out the seventy-two disciples in pairs: “The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit.” For the same reason, He laid the foundation of the Church by choosing the Twelve apostles. Jesus knew that the mission could not be accomplished alone, but that it must be carried out together as a team. As the African proverb says, “If you want to travel fast, travel alone; but if you want to travel far, bring someone with you.” Truly, none of us should be so proud as to think that we can do without others. We need to carry the burden of the Church together, and we need to share the responsibility of spreading the Gospel with one another.
Today, we celebrate the feasts of Sts. Timothy and Titus, both of whom are excellent examples of what it means to support one another in faith and mission. First of all, we need the support of our parents and teachers; we need good mentors in discipleship. The reality today is that we often lack credible and inspiring witnesses of the faith. Both religious and lay leaders sometimes fail to set a strong example. Without good mentors, we cannot inspire others in faith or help them to persevere. If marriages are breaking down today, it is often because we do not have enough loving and faithful couples to set the example. In the case of St. Timothy, he was blessed with loving and God-fearing parents and grandparents. As St. Paul wrote, “I am reminded of the sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it is the same in you as well.” Indeed, faith is caught, not taught. If our children have lost their faith, it is often because the faith of their parents is weak, superficial, or at most ritualistic–not a living faith. Of course, sometimes our religious leaders also fail to project a fervent and living faith in their lifestyle and ministry.
Secondly, there is a beautiful fraternal relationship between St. Paul and his fellow collaborators, Timothy and Titus. He addressed both of them as his own children in faith. To Timothy, he wrote with tenderness and love: “Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.” In the same spirit, he wrote to Titus: “To Titus, true child of mine in the faith that we share, wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Saviour.” We can be sure that St. Paul shared a close and fraternal bond with them. They were not merely collaborators or workers; they were his “children,” his brothers in the faith, sharing a common mission because they had been appointed by the Lord. Without doubt, it was the constant support and guidance of St. Paul that enabled the young Bishop Timothy, shepherd of Ephesus, and Titus, Bishop of Crete, to care for their flocks, even during times of division and challenge within their communities.
Thirdly, we need the support of the larger community. As Catholics, we are never meant to journey alone. It is the duty of the community to support their leaders and fellow Catholics, wherever they may be–even outside their own parish. They must welcome their leaders and their fellow Catholics, especially in times of need. Parishes that lack hospitality will only drive away those who are already lonely in the faith. Indeed, many who have left the Church did so not because of our doctrines or spirituality, but because they had been wounded, marginalised, or hurt by fellow Catholics. As the Lord said, “Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you.” To be Catholic means to be part of the Universal Church. Every Catholic not only has the responsibility to help fellow Catholics in their own community but must also extend support to Catholics from other parishes and beyond the local diocese.
But support is always a two-way street. It is not just about receiving–it is also about giving. Sts. Timothy and Titus supported St. Paul every step of the way. How often was St. Paul consoled by them! Just as he encouraged them, in his own difficult moments he found solace in their presence. He wrote, “Always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness.” Without the consolation and support of Sts. Timothy and Titus, St. Paul would not have been able to remain firm and strong in the face of opposition–and even the threat of death.
Secondly, we are called to serve the community. Jesus said, “Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, ‘The kingdom of God is very near to you.'” It is important not only to receive from the community, but also to give back and serve it. Unfortunately, there are many Catholics who treat the Church as if it were a dispensing machine. They come only to receive, not to contribute. They are demanding, with high expectations, seeking this or that from their priests and the community, sometimes even claiming special privileges. But when it comes to serving the Church, they are absent. They leave the work to others, acting only as recipients and not as fellow workers in the vineyard. They are not generous with their resources, their talents, or their time. When difficulties arise, they know only how to criticise and condemn. As Jesus said, “They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them” (Mt 23:4).
Thirdly, we must be grateful to those who help us. Jesus instructed the disciples: “Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.” This gratitude is expressed in not being choosy or selective. Regardless of how much people can offer, we must receive it with thankful hearts. Those who are richer may give more, but this does not mean they are more generous than those who give less. It is not a question of how much we give, but how much we give from what we have. We must never forget the story of the Widow’s Mite, when Jesus remarked, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, has put in all she had to live on” (Lk 21:3f).
In the final analysis, the real and fundamental support we must rely on is God alone. That is why Jesus told the disciples, “Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.” In saying this, He not only underscores the need to travel light in preaching the Good News, but also emphasises our dependence on His grace alone–not on our own strength or ingenuity. Only God can bring success to the works of human hands. We must never think that this mission can be accomplished without the primacy of God’s grace. This is God’s work, not ours. St. Paul reminded St. Timothy, “So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.” Let us never think that when the mission bears fruit, we can take credit for ourselves. Rather, as the psalmist reminds us: “Sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord, all the earth. O sing to the Lord, bless his name. Proclaim his help day by day, tell among the nations his glory and his wonders among all the peoples. Give the Lord, you families of peoples, give the Lord glory and power; give the Lord the glory of his name.”
As St. Paul invites us today, let us rekindle our faith and embrace the commission to proclaim the Gospel in the way the Lord has called us. He said to St. Timothy, “That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control.” This faith can be rekindled by remembering His love for us, His choice in calling us, and, most of all, the faith passed on to us by our community, which continues to support us in our journey. We express our gratitude to them by keeping, as St. Paul urges, a clear conscience and remembering our duty to God, “as my ancestors did.”
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
