Daily Readings - Fri Jan 26 2018

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

¹Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, in accord with the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus²to Timothy, most beloved son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord³I give thanks to God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. For without ceasing I hold the remembrance of you in my prayers, night and day⁴desiring to see you, recalling your tears so as to be filled with joy⁵calling to mind the same faith, which is in you unfeigned, which also first dwelt in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and also, I am certain, in you⁶Because of this, I admonish you to revive the grace of God, which is in you by the imposition of my hands⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of virtue, and of love, and of self-restraint⁸And so, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. Instead, collaborate with the Gospel in accord with the virtue of God

Titus

Chapter 1

¹Paul, a servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, in accord with the faith of God’s elect and in acknowledgment of the truth which is accompanied by piety²in the hope of the eternal life that God, who does not lie, promised before the ages of time³which, at the proper time, he has manifested by his Word, in the preaching that has been entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior⁴to Titus, beloved son according to the common faith. Grace and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Savior⁵For this reason, I left you behind in Crete: so that those things which are lacking, you would correct, and so that you would ordain, throughout the communities, priests, (just as I also ordained you

Luke

Chapter 10

¹Then, after these things, the Lord also designated another seventy-two. And he sent them in pairs before his face, into every city and place where he was to arrive²And he said to them: "Certainly the harvest is great, but the workers are few. Therefore, ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest³Go forth. Behold, I send you out like lambs among wolves⁴Do not choose to carry a purse, nor provisions, nor shoes; and you shall greet no one along the way⁵Into whatever house you will have entered, first say, ‘Peace to this house.⁶And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you⁷And remain in the same house, eating and drinking the things that are with them. For the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not choose to pass from house to house⁸And into whatever city you have entered and they have received you, eat what they set before you⁹And cure the sick who are in that place, and proclaim to them, ‘The kingdom of God has drawn 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.