Catholic Daily Reading + Reflection: 26 January 2021 – The Harvest Is Plentiful, But The Laborers Are Few
TUESDAY 26, 2021
3rd Week in Ordinary Time
VESTMENT: White
Today’s Rosary: Sorrowful Mystery
SS Timothy and Titus Bps. Memorial
Entrance Antiphon Ps 96:3-4
Tell among the nations his glory, and his wonders among all the peoples: the Lord is great and highly to be praised.
Collect
O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant, through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. Through our Lord. . .
FIRST READING
“I am reminded of your sincere faith.”
A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 1: 1-8)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control. Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the Gospel in the power of God.
The word of the Lord.
Or the following
FIRST READING
“To Titus, my true child in a common faith.”
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to Titus (Titus I: 1-5)
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who never lies, promised ages ago and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by command of God our Saviour; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God and Christ Jesus our Saviour. This is why I left you in Crete, that you might amend what was defective, and appoint elders in every town as I direct you.
The Word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a. 10
R. Tell among all the peoples the wonders of the Lord
O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord, all the earth,
O sing to the Lord, bless his name. R
Proclaim his salvation day by bay,
Tell among the nations his glory,
and his wonders among all the people. R
R. Tell among all the peoples the wonders of the Lord
Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
give the Lord glory and power,
give the Lord the glory of his name. R
Say to the nations, “The Lord is king.”
The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness R
ALLELUIA Luke 4:18
Alleluia. The Lord sent me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captive. Alleluia
GOSPEL
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 10:1-9)
At that time: The Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. And he said to them, “The harvest is pleantiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go your way, behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and salute no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you,”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today Reflection
Today we celebrate the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus who were close associates of Saint Paul in his various missionary journeys. Through his pastoral letters to these two, Saint Paul shows that affirming the lives of his followers and associates usually brings out the best qualities in them. Even the best needs encouragement, renewal, prayer and perseverance. Today’s lesson to all Christians is that each of us should be source of inspiration to others.
SS Timothy and Titus Bps. Memorial: Today we honour two close collaborators of Saint Paul. It is good to see that Paul did not carry out his ministry alone. Rather he surrounded himself with several co-operators, both men and women. Timothy and Titus are among the most outstanding of these collaborators. They accompanied Paul in some of his missionary journeys, preached the Gospel with him and helped in the establishment and strengthening of several new Christian communities.
Personal Devotional
“Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak. 2 Corinthians 12:8
– I ask for forgiveness and pardon in whatever way I have uttered your name that did not bring you glory.
– I pray against the spirit of being puffed up with pride in my daily activities.
Let Us Pray
Enlighten my heart O Lord that I may overcome the snares of evil that tempts me from every side, disguising as an angel of light and give me the strength to always walk the way of truth that leads to you in the name of Jesus. Amen.