Feast of Sts. Timothy and Titus
2 Tim. 1:1-8 | Ps. 96:1-3, 7-8a, 10 | Mk. 4:1-20
Paul is writing Timothy and Titus, whose feast we celebrate today, encouraging them to be worthy disciples of God. He reminds them that he is grateful for them and remembers them in prayer. Paul invites them to live like him and to be willing to suffer for the Gospel. The parable of the Sower of Seeds is thought provoking, heart stirring, and soul searching. We have heard this parable many times. It can become a hazard to our spiritual lives if we just hear the words and think that we know what this parable is all about and then proceed to conduct the business of our lives as usual. Listen to the descriptions of the seed: 1) the seed on the path are those who hear and then Satan immediately comes and takes away the word sown in them; 2) the seed on rocky ground are those who hear the word, receive it with joy, but have no root and endure only for a while. When persecution arises on account of the word, they immediately fall away; 3) the seed among the thorns are those who hear the word but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth and desire for other things come and choke the word and it yields nothing; 4) the seed on good soil hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, 30 – 60 – 100 fold. There is an invitation for all of us to see how we respond to God’s Word to us.
Today, let your light shine before all. Give deeply and freely to others from the gifts you have been given. Pause to consider one way in which you might be able to be more generous. Make a decision to carry out this action today.