Titus 3:8-10: Sparks Among the Stubble
Friday, February 16, 2024
This reflection is adapted from a Favorite written on All Souls’ Day, November 2, 2009 and is posted today for those who feel lost in the present climate of fear and anger.
The letter to Titus is brief but contains powerful words; we read some of them today. They have a great deal to teach us and when we reflect on them in light of today’s celebration – the celebration of All Souls – and they tell us that we have some place deeper to go. The body of Christ.
The Mass readings today are the 23rd Psalm along with Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 5:5-11 and John 6:37-40. In the Old Testament reading we have the beautiful image of souls flying like sparks rising from a burning stubble. In the Psalm we receive great comfort in all trials. In Paul’s letter and in John’s Gospel we have the message that Christ has returned to take each of us into him . . . to return each of us to the Creator where we rightly belong.
As we reune and commune with our loved ones today who have gone before us, let us think of how we suffer for one another that we might be together. And then let us take on the bigger challenge offered by Christ – that we might suffer as gladly for those who are our enemies.
In his letter to Titus, Paul cautions that once we make an overture to those who have left God’s side we must allow Christ himself to step in so that he might do what is necessary to turn all back to the saving power of God. As we sing with the souls of the departed that shine and dart about as sparks through stubble, as we receive the love of God poured out into our hearts, and know that this doctrine is sure, we must allow ourselves to be raised in and with Christ so that we might dart and fly among the stubble of the world to bring God’s transformative message of the promise of eternal life in Christ.
Image from: https://pixabay.com/en/photos/spark%20fire/
The Noontimes 