Festival of St. Titus, Bishop and Confessor
Posted on January 26, 2024 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 13:44-52 (NKJV)
13:44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found pone pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?”
They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
Devotion
“The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”
The Jews were constantly interpreting Jesus’ words according to their preconceived ideas about the Old Testament framework. They constantly saw religion in the form of reward and punishment according to one’s deeds—that is, according to the Law. But they are not unique in this perspective. All men fall back into such thinking. It is our default setting: moralism and legalistic religion. We all desire to focus on our own works and efforts. But Jesus teaches something completely different.
Jesus overturns our natural legalism. Every tribe conceives of gods rewarding or punishing men for their actions. No one anticipated a God who receives punishment for His creature’s sins and then gives away ultimate rewards to undeserving recipients. Christianity is not like any other religion. It turns the relationship between men and God on its head. God doesn’t demand atonement from us. He gives it to us. This Christian faith is truly otherworldly.
Collect: O God, who didst adorn St. Titus with apostolic virtues, increase in us a spirit directed to a life of duty and justice which is the fruit of a faith which trusts in our Savior, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord
O God, Who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine Only-begotten Son, hast confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of the fathers, and Who, in the voice that came from the bright cloud, didst in a wonderful manner foreshow the adoption of sons: Mercifully vouchsafe to make us coheirs with the King of His glory, and bring us to the enjoyment of the same; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
