Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Click here for today's readings on the USCCB website.
Reading: Titus 2:1-8, 11-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29
Alleluia: John 14:23
Gospel: Luke 17:7-10
Christian Behavior and Transformation of Life (Titus 2:1-8, 11-14)
In today’s first reading, St. Paul is giving further instruction to Titus on the island of Crete. He gives examples on how older men and women should model their lives as well as young men. Paul says, “that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance.” (Titus 2:2)
As older men, we need to mind our tempers and be dignified in our manner and speech. We need to learn and model self-control, to others, especially our children. We need to learn and understand our faith, model it, and pass it down to future generations. We need to love, as Christs loves, our spouses and children if we have them. But most especially our neighbor.
St. Paul also gives instructions for older women.
3 Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good,
4 so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children,Titus 2:3-4
Older women need to be role models to their younger counterparts. Other than being reverent, I think that one of the best things that the older women can teach the younger women is to love their husbands and their children. If anything from the past month or so, on social media, there has been a lot of trying to say the opposite.
St. Paul also urges younger men to control themselves. Too often in today’s society, everything is about instant gratification. Buying things that we can’t afford, not waiting until marriage before having sex, and the list goes on and on. We need to demonstrate temperance and self control.
St. Paul says,
11 For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
12and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
13 as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ…Titus 2:11-13
All of these things we should be doing as a society. We need older men and women to model for younger generations what solid marriages and homes should look like. We need to marriages that will last and stable homes for children instead of broken home after broken home. We need to end hook-up culture because it simply does not work and ultimately ends in sadness and heartbreak.
If you are an older man or woman, how are you going to model Christianity today for those younger than you. If you are a younger man or woman, do you have role models that you can look up to, parent or grandparents or others at your parish?
Attitude of a Servant (Luke 17:7-10)
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches his disciples that they need to have the attitude of a servant.
10 So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’”
Luke 17:10
We will see this echoed later on in the Last Supper when Jesus washes the apostle’s feet. Most of us want to be the master of the house and we desire to be served. But we are called to be servants to all.
While in a traditional household role, a woman may prepare the meals for the family and clean the house. But if she is pregnant, the husband may assume some of these roles to help her out.
Yesterday was Veterans Day in the United States. And I recall to memory how during Thanksgiving and Christmas, the senior leadership, would don aprons and serve the meals during the holidays. I remember one year, our unit was on detail during the holidays and so me, our Major, and Sergeant Major were driving in a truck picking up trash along the side of the road. In these times, a servant’s heart was demonstrated.
Today we need to think about how we serve our spouses, our children, and our neighbors.
Prayer for a Servants Heart
Dear Jesus,
You promised that You would never leave us
or forsake us,
As You send us out into the world
to spread Your Word,
And that you would equip us with all the gifts we need to
share Your Gospel.
Please help me to know what You have given me
to use for You,
And grace in my heart to gladly serve
in Your Kingdom.
Give me a heart for others,
And help me to help them come to know You.
Amen.