THE FEAST OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS.

FEAST OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS,  Bishops. 

THE GOSPEL:

"The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, 

“He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and

“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.”

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, 

“How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided against itself, 

that house will not be able to stand.

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, 

he cannot stand; 

that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property 

unless he first ties up the strong man.

Then he can plunder his house. 

Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies 

that people utter will be forgiven them.

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit 

will never have forgiveness, 

but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”

For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3: 22 - 30). 

Monday 26th January 2026, in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Saints Timothy and Titus.

 Timothy (+ 97). Born of a Jewish mother and a Greek father.

 He was ordained by St Paul as Bishop of Ephesus. 

He was a disciple of Paul and traveled with Paul in some of his missionary journeys.

Titus (+ 96 or 107). Ordained Bishop of Crete by St Paul.

 Both Timothy and Titus had very difficult churches to oversee in Ephesus and Crete respectively.

In our Gospel message today, the Scribes insane with envy about the apostolic successes of the ministry of Jesus lashed out like a boxer that has lost control and strikes out everywhere. 

Jesus ever cool answered them methodically. 

"How can Satan drive out Satan?

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

And if a house is divided against itself, 

that house will not be able to stand.

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, 

he cannot stand; 

that is the end of him.

But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property 

unless he first ties up the strong man.

Then he can plunder his house."

My brothers and sisters, are you impressed by Jesus' wisdom and performance? 

Jesus promised that you and I can do the same if we trust in the Holy Spirit living in us. 

We have seen proofs of this from the performances of St Stephen, Saints Peter and John before the Sanhedrin. 

Thank You Abba Father for the Gift of the Most Precious Spirit. May we never doubt that He will do in us according to Your Promises. Amen! 

We are still in January, the month the Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus. 

St. Peter Canisius, S.J.

 "The Name of Jesus is a name of life, of salvation, and of joy. It is a name that strengthens the heart and gives light to the mind."

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, S.J.

 "Every time I pronounce the Name of Jesus, it seems to me that my heart is rekindled with a new fire of love and my soul is filled with a singular sweetness."

For the Litany of the Most Holy Name  of Jesus, click the link below 

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/12/litany-of-most-holy-name-of-jesus.html?m=1