January 26
Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops
Memorial
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth,” (Tim 2:15). [1]
These two great men were disciples and companions of St. Paul and stalwarts in the early church’s missionary efforts. They figure prominently in the Letters of Paul, the Pastoral Epistles addressed to them, and in the Acts of the Apostles. St. Timothy accompanied St. Paul on his second missionary journey and was entrusted to aide the Thessalonians, Corinthians and Ephesians. St. Titus is addressed as St. Paul’s ‘true child after a common faith’ and was called to missionary work in Crete. In these saints, we see a willingness and generousness to proclaim the Gospel wherever they were called. The Pastoral Epistles addressed to them offer guidance for all those who minister in the church.