Faith and Collaboration (Timothy and Titus, Jan. 26)

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For any system to be productive and efficiently sustained, there must an assemblage of parts working together. There is a common goal to achieve, and so they MUST work in harmony. They must believe in their individual capacities in the actualization of that common goal or objective. They must have FAITH: faith in self and faith in one another. 

Without FAITH, there can be no efficient, fruitful and purposeful COLLABORATION. Firms and companies cannot be productive and successful in their ventures if there are no functional management teams consisting of individuals who BELIEVE in one another and COLLABORATE with one another. It was much easier for Jesus during His ministry on earth because He had close followers who understood the principle of fruitful and efficient collaboration: the apostles believed in Jesus and must have believed in one another.

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. They were bishops, great friends, collaborators, disciples and fellow missionaries with St Paul. In his letter to Timothy (cf. 2 Tim. 1:1-8), Paul appreciated him for his GREAT FAITH and encouraged him to rekindle and use the gifts he has received for the efficient management of the Church he entrusted to him. In Titus 1:1-5, St Paul praised Titus for being his true child in a common FAITH and expressed his trust in the capability of Titus to amend what was defective in the church he entrusted to him. In Mark 3:31-35, when Jesus was told that His relatives wanted to see Him, He said to those who gathered around Him: my mother and brethren are those who do the will of God. By this statement, He has left us with a great lesson: that it is not about how “close” we are to Him; it is about how ready we are to COLLABORATE with Him in doing the will of His Father. 

In all of the above instances, we see in Jesus, Paul, Timothy and Titus individuals who understood the secret of organizational growth and efficiency: FAITH and COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT. Paul appreciated Timothy and Titus for their FAITH and encouraged them to use their gifts as they COLLABORATE with him for greater and successful ends. Jesus made it clear that His relatives are only those who COLLABORATE with Him in doing the will of His Father. Timothy and Titus were not “beer-parlour” friends to St Paul; they were friends who knew the value of fruitful collaboration for good ends. Who are my friends? Does our friendship bring out the best in us? Does it lead to collaboration for better ends? If it does not, then we are “enemies” hiding under the cover of friendship.  




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