3rd Week in Ordinary Time
26th January 2023 (Thursday) Readings and Reflection
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Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 TIMOTHY 1. 1-8
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10 (R. see 3)
Response: Tell among all the peoples the wonders of the Lord.
Gospel : LUKE 10. 1-9
At that time: The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money bag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house!' And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Main Theme: Charged for mission!
Indicative: God chooses us and anoints us with His Spirit, trains us at His feet and in His company, and commissions us with His own mission. He needs us to continue His mission. And we need Him to be able to continue{alertSuccess}
1. We commemorate today Saints Timothy and Titus. In the first reading, we get an imitable example of faith and mission. Timothy inherited from his grandmother and mother a sincere faith and nurtured it.
2. He stirred into flame the gift of faith. He was not ashamed of his faith but considered it a dignity and privilege. He was not timid but courageous. With the strength that comes from the gospel, he bore the hardships perseveringly. Thus he bore testimony to the Lord.
3. We are also called to constantly nurture and stir into flame the gift of faith that we have gratuitously received from God. We too are called to bear testimony to the Lord through our life and mission.
4. Now our mission is exactly the same as that of the disciples and Timothy and Titus. The gospel presents us with some of the mission components. It is an enormous mission: “The harvest is plenty but the labourers are few”.We need to be responsible and diligent labourers.
5. We need to be conscious of the grave challenge of being lambs among wolves. Thus, we must be prepared for opposition and endangerment. We must cultivate the spirit of detachment, not depending on “money or sack or sandals”. It is a call not to rely on worldly securities and guarantees.
6. Further, it is a peace mission, spreading peace and harmony wherever we go. It is a healing mission of curing the sick. It is ultimately a kingdom mission, constantly striving to take the people closer to God’s kingdom of love, justice, and dignity.
Imperative: Our greatest mission is to bring the Kingdom of God nearer to the people, and to make the values of the kingdom a reality. In other words, it is to bear witness to the gospel in power, love, and self-control{alertSuccess}