O God, you will the salvation of all peoples. Send dedicated disciples, zealous preachers, and selfless servants of charity, such as Timothy and Titus, who’s feast we today celebrate. May they minister to bring the world closer to you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God's plan laid out in the Message of Life by Jesus. I write this to you, Timothy, the son I love so much. All the best from our God and Christ be yours! Every time I say your name in prayer--which is practically all the time--I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion. That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith--and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed--keep that ablaze! God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner. Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us. We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God,

I, Paul, am God's slave and Christ's agent for promoting the faith among God's chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it. My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago--and he doesn't break promises! And then when the time was ripe, he went public with his truth. I've been entrusted to proclaim this Message by order of our Saviour, God himself. Dear Titus, legitimate son in the faith: Receive everything God our Father and Jesus our Saviour give you!
I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done.

Clear my name, God;

stick up for me against these loveless,

immoral people.
 

Get me out of here, away
from these lying degenerates.
 

I counted on you, God.
 

Why did you walk out on me?
Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands
over these outrageous people?
 

Give me your lantern and compass,
give me a map,
So I can find my way to the sacred mountain,
to the place of your presence,
 

To enter the place of worship,
meet my exuberant God,
Sing my thanks with a harp,
magnificent God, my God.

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God--
soon I'll be praising again.
 

He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.
 

Jesus Christ lives for ever at the right hand of the Father to make intercession on our behalf. Let us pray through the intercession of Saints Timothy and Titus:

R/ Send forth your light and your truth!

You have called many to live and to preach the good news of salvation:

    - keep all your followers faithful to the message they have received from you. R/

You have called men and women from every walk of life to bear witness to you:

    - sustain them in the midst of opposition and fill them with your joy. R/

For all factions within the Church and among Christians, we pray: R/

For all those who are torn by divided loyalties and conflicting interests, we pray: R/

Personal Intentions ....

OUR FATHER ...

Lord, accept the gifts we offer to you each day - gifts of service, of our talents and abilities used in your service. Today as we celebrate the feast of two of your early disciples, Timothy and Titus, we ask you to accept this offering of our day. May this gift we make bring us your help for which we long. We ask this in union with the Spirit present in and among us. Amen.