The Holy Martyr Paramon; The Holy Martyr Philomenus; Our Father Acacius, of Whom Testimony is Found in the Ladder of Divine Ascent.
Nativity Fast. Abstention from meat and foods that contain meat.
Titus 1:15-2:10. Luke 20:19-26.
Read Titus 1:15-2:10
Today’s reading from the letter of St. Paul to Titus begins with discussing purity and defilement. The purity of our mind and conscience permeates all aspects of our life, but if we are impure, that impurity likewise manifests itself in our lives in varied ways. Like the beatitude says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt. 5:8). Striving for purity of heart ought to be a priority for us because it allows us a special intimacy with God. As Paul wrote in today’s reading: “[those who are defiled and unbelieving] profess to know God, but in works they deny Him” (Titus 1:16). When we allow ourselves to be defiled by sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, by our actions we deny God instead of following Christ’s instruction: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Lk. 9:23). Every day, we need to practice the denial of the irrational impulses of our vices and passions and instead pursue purity on the path of Christ.
In writing these instructions to Titus, Paul was teaching him that God made nothing unclean. Defilement does not come from any “unclean” thing but rather the disposition of the one who partakes of it. Paul gives advice to Titus on what to exhort “older men,” “older women,” “young women,” “young men,” and “bondservants” to do, all for the sake of directing Christians to continue on the path to purity, whatever stage or state of life they may be in. Wherever we find ourselves and whatever our vocation in life may be, let us not forget that each of us shares a fundamental vocation to holiness and eternal communion with God. Let us put aside actions that are unbecoming of living a pure life so that we may press forward as faithful disciples of Christ.