Readings: Titus 2:1-8,11-14, Ps. 37:3-4,18,23,27,29, Luke 17:7-10
“Encourage the young women to love their husbands, their children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. Likewise, younger men should be encouraged to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects a model of good works.” (Titus 2:4-7)
To be self-controlled means to say “no” to the impulses of the flesh, regardless of how strong the temptations may be. It means to act right no matter what one feels inside.
- Self-control or self-discipline is not something we acquire from the blues; it is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; that is to say, self-control is one of the manifestations of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. Hence, to be more self-controlled, we must pray constantly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
- Reading Paul’s letter to Titus, we can see that self-control is neither the exclusive reserve of the young or the old nor gender-specific. All humans, regardless of age and position in life, always need self-control.
- Without self-control, one cannot be a leader. As St. Paul says, “Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds…” Jesus used a parable in our Gospel passage to emphasise that we should always see ourselves as humble servants. In essence, Jesus wants us to eliminate the “entitlement mentality.”
- Even though the Bible contains a lot of promises, our worship of God does not give us an automatic ticket to receiving these promises. Yes, we must keep God’s commandments with all our heart, but at the end of the day, we can only say: “We are unworthy servants. Again, it takes self-control to say, “I don’t deserve anything; I am only a servant.
- Hear what others have said about self-control. “You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations). “Never respond to an angry person with a fiery comeback, even if he deserves it... Don't allow his anger to become your anger.” (Bohdi Sanders, Warrior Wisdom)
- “If you conquer yourself, then you conquer the world” (Paulo Coelho, Aleph). “He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” (Lao Tzu). “Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself.” (Elie Wiesel).
- If you lack self-control, it is not because you are powerless but because you have decided to divert your power to the wrong things. Every human being is powerful. God would not give us any commandments if He knew we were powerless against our bodily passions.
- As Christ speaks in the Ninth Station of the Cross: “My body cannot move. And yet, my will is mine, and so is yours. My child, this one thing is certain: your body may be broken, but no force on earth and none in hell can take away your will. Your will is yours.”
- Today, we remember Saint Josaphat (c.1580 - 1623). He was born in the Ukraine to Orthodox parents. Josaphat was the first person to join the first monastery of the order of St. Basil to be united with the Catholic Church. He was ordained a priest and, eventually and reluctantly, appointed bishop of Polotsk in 1617. Josaphat was murdered by a mob in 1623 while on a pastoral visit to Vitebsk.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, give us the grace to exercise power over ourselves. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr. Bible Study: Titus 2:1-8,11-14, Ps. 37:3-4,18,23,27,29, Luke 17:7-10).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu