Today we celebrate the feast days of Saints Timothy and Titus. The first readings for today are taken from 2 Timothy and Titus. While reflecting on Saint Titus who was an early Christian missionary, it brought me back to a former parish. Mothers of preschoolers attended a program called Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS). This was a wonderful ministry for new moms to come together for fellowship while their preschoolers attended their own classes. One of the aspects of their time together was to be mentored from the “seasoned” mom who was called the “Titus” mentor. The “Titus” mentor was the perfect example of a witness who didn’t place her lamp under a bushel basket or under a bed as we read about in the Gospel selection today from Mark 4:21-25. She placed her lamp on her lampstand and spoke very openly of the love and relationship she had with Jesus. She was God’s instrument that changed lives forever. The moms were drawn into her love for Jesus and wanted that same type of relationship. They prayed for a deeper love and understanding of Jesus and their faith. It was a prayer often answered. When we hide our lamp under the bushel basket or our bed, we become like the Dead Sea where the Jordan River runs into it but it does not have an outlet. We become stagnate and die. |