32 Week in Ordinary Time, Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Scripture: Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 Psalm 37:3-4.18.23.27.29 Luke 17:7-10

The Pastoral Epistles of St. Paul come mostly from his school of followers and are just as inspired as the rest of the New Testament. These letters already show a Church or community that is at peace and whose structures are the beginnings of the presbyterate (priesthood)and deacons and overseers (bishops) as leaders within the community. Some see this as an early form of Catholicism. Timothy is perhaps the first bishop or overseer of the Church at Ephesus; Titus, to whom this letter addressed, may have been the first overseer on the island of Crete.

In these Pastorals we are almost given a job description for the leaders in the community. The method of leading is through the development of the virtues which start to be enumerated in these Epistles and in other later Epistles. One has just to read I and II Timothy and Titus to immediately discover the virtues that will inspire these shepherds of the flock. Paul and the Apostles probably have died and these are the churches or communities they have left behind; now they will be guided by the Spirit in those who inherit the responsiblity of leadership.

I love the following paragraph which is the conclusion of today's reading from Titus: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14).

This is Incarnational and Redemptive theology that is beautifully expressed. It is our reason for living and being leaders today. Jesus, too, is telling us something personal about our stewardship. We are to be humble and faithful servants of the Lord just as he was the Suffering Messiah and Servant of the Lord. The Gospels are profoundly Incarnational in showing us Jesus as the meek and humble Son of God who was the son of Mary. True leadership requires such honest humility and service for all of God's people. Amen.