Missionary Interdependence!

Friday, January 26, 2024

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus

2 Tm 1:1-8; Lk 10:1-9

In today’s Gospel, we find Jesus sending the disciples, two by two, in pairs for ministry.

What made Jesus send them two by two? 

We may have seen birds flying in a V formation. Scientists have discovered that flying in such a formation makes flight easier for birds so by falling in line with it, the birds can use 20% to 30% less energy while flying. 

Jesus wants the disciples to build synergy that God’s mission can benefit from. 

Jesus built synergy through his team ministry. His twelve apostles were with him always. 

Hence, Jesus must have realized the importance of ‘missionary interdependence’ by which we need others to uplift us whenever we feel low or down, from time to time. 

From his own life, Jesus must have discovered that his ‘road’ from Nazareth to Jerusalem was not too long because of the good company he enjoyed. Hence, he wanted his disciples to apply the same principle in their ministry. 

Above all, the Trinitarian God, One God in Three Persons – Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier – demonstrates the beauty of doing the mission as a team. 

Today, we celebrate the feast of Saints Timothy and Titus, who were Paul’s missionary companions. 

The proclamation of the Gospel took on a new meaning when they proclaimed the Good News as a team. 

If the Gospel means the Good News of God’s love, it has to be communicated out of a loving friendship that characterizes the team of disciples. 

If we preach what we live, the testimony becomes a powerful evangelization. 

Let us pray that, like Jesus, like the Trinity, and like Sts. Timothy and Titus, we evangelize love, friendship, and union as the Good News. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar