2 Tim 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 / Luke 10:1-9
Today's memorial of St. Timothy and St. Titus is celebrated after yesterday's feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
St. Timothy and St. Titus were disciples of St. Paul, and he calls them affectionately as a "child of mine".
St. Paul saw himself as their spiritual father and he had formed them in the faith and he had appointed them as leaders of their respective communities.
More than just for the purpose of continuity and succession, what was urgent was the mission of the proclamation of the Good News.
As Jesus said in the gospel, "The harvest is rich but the labourers are few." And Jesus also added, "So ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to the harvest."
So for St. Paul it was not just about appointing capable and efficient people to be the leaders of the communities that he had founded.
He had to pray to the Lord and to see who the Lord was sending as labourers for the harvest.
Let us remember to pray for those in formation for the priesthood and the religious life.
May they answer the call of the Lord and offer themselves generously to be labourers in the harvest of the Kingdom of God.