Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on the Memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus; Friday, 3rd Week in OT, 26 January 2024, FSpIF Chapel, Talamban

Some people are born leaders. And so when they grow up they are not afraid to take up leadership roles. Others, however, are not. And so they either hesitate to accept being leaders or strongly refuse the position offered to them because of the big responsibility it entails. They are content to simply be assistants fulfilling a kind of auxiliary role to the one who holds a much greater responsibility over the group, company or community.

The day after celebrating the conversion of St Paul, the Church celebrates Saints Timothy and Titus. They started not as leaders but as assistants. Both were close companions of this great apostle to the gentiles. Both of them each in his own way proved to be faithful and dedicated in their pastoral work, helping St Paul in his ministry of sowing the seeds of the Gospel in pagan territories. Both of them journeyed with St Paul in building communities for Christ in the different parts of the Roman world. And later on when the time was ripe, both of them courageously took up leadership roles in the Church as bishops: St Timothy became the first bishop of Ephesus, while St Titus, the bishop of Crete. Both tried to face the most difficult challenges and both did their best to defend the faith at all costs.

Although only Titus enjoyed the privilege of being called Paul’s “true child in the common faith” since it was Paul himself who baptized him and ordained him, both saints actually received letters from St Paul, addressing each of them as his child, and guiding them in their pastoral ministry, especially in the communities of the faithful entrusted to them.

At the end of their selflessly dedicated service in the Church, St Timothy died a martyr’s death following his great mentor St Paul, while St. Titus died peacefully in his old age. For all these reasons, the Church honors them today with great veneration, at the same time, pleading that they intercede for all faithful, especially the clergy who have received the difficult ministry of leadership in the Church.

Moreover, we give thanks to God for the gift of these two saintly bishops for in them we see a clear illustration of the parable of the mustard seed which we have heard in today’s gospel. In the earliest years of the Church, tiny seeds of the good news were sown by the apostles everywhere in the hearts of many people like Timothy and Titus each in their own land. Later on just like mustard seeds that sprouted and gradually grew up to become the largest of shrubs, Timothy and Titus allowed the seeds of the gospel to sprout and grow within them until they themselves matured in their faith and became good and faithful pastors in the Church. And amazingly so many people from their apostolic work and were led to Christ under their fatherly guidance, pastoral care and protection.

Let us pray that through the inspiring examples and powerful intercession of Sts. Timothy and Titus we may serve the Church faithfully even simply as assistants. And when the right time comes may we also have the Spirit of courage and fortitude to accept leadership roles even in the most challenging times, not for the honor and privileges such position brings, but for the glory of God and the building up of the Church. GiGsss!

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