and become heirs in hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7 NABRE)
Titus, like Timothy, was a companion of Paul on his third missionary journey about twenty years after Jesus' Ascension. He was sent to the island of Crete to learn about the people there and to establish church leaders.
In his greeting to Titus from which today's verse is drawn, Paul, having heard about how the people of Crete had been living, instructs Titus how they should live. He reminds Titus that God has been kind, generous and merciful to the faithful. Therefore, these believers needed to change. They should be:
- Under the control of magistrates and authorities
- Obedient
- Open to every good enterprise (meaning to be good citizens)
- Peaceable
- Considerate
- Exercise all graciousness toward everyone
- Foolish
- Disobedient
- Deluded
- Slaves to various desires and pleasures
- Living in malice and envy
- Hateful
Good advice for us too.
Today, I will remember how generous, kind and merciful God has been in my life; and as such, seek to devote myself to good works.
On this feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran church, the pope’s church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides, Saints Peter and John Paul II, pray for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment