First reading 2 Timothy 1:1-8
Fan into a flame the gift God gave you
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well.
That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.
Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10
Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.
O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.
Proclaim his help day by day,
tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name.
Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness.
Gospel Mark 3:22-30
A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.
‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
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Peace to this house
Today, we celebrate Saints Timothy and Titus, trusted companions and coworkers of St. Paul. Their lives remind us that the mission of spreading the Gospel does not rest on one person alone. It is a shared journey, rooted in faith and sustained through the grace of God. In the Gospel, Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples two by two. They were to travel lightly, depending not on possessions but on God’s providence and the hospitality of others. Their message was to say, “Peace to this house… the Kingdom of God is very near to you.” They are not sent to conquer but to bless; not to rely on their own strength, but on God who sends them. Like Timothy and Titus, they are missionaries of peace and instruments of God’s presence in the world.
On this feast, we are invited to see ourselves as people chosen by God to do extraordinary things through faith. He calls us to go forth, to speak His Word, to love boldly, and to serve with joy. We are sent into our families, communities, and workplaces, not carrying gold or silver, but the peace of Christ.
Reflective question:
In what ways can I bring God’s peace to the people I will meet today?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
