Titus!

Today, Tuesday January 26th is St. Titus Day. Did you know that? I didn't either until I read it in my Portals of Prayer. Then I wondered about St. Titus. Can't say I know anything really about St. Titus- other than there is a book in the Bible by this name. That is the extent of my Titus knowledge- so let's extend our Titus insights together shall we?

First some unrelated Titus names: My family went to Titusville in Florida to watch the space shuttle take off ten years ago or more. It was named after confederate Colonel Theodore Titus who got to name the town when he won a dominoes match in 1873. Shakespeare wrote a play 'Titus Andronicus' laced with revenge and dark themes which many conclude is his worst play. Then there was a Roman Emperor named Titus who came to power in 79 AD after leading the destruction of Jerusalem. Today Titus is around the 400th most popular name for babies.

Back to Saint Titus, he was a Gentile (non-Jewish) companion of Paul and is mentioned a number of times in the New Testament. Some think he may have been a brother of Luke. At one point Paul sends him off to Corinth to collect an offering for the poor in Jerusalem. Later we find Titus in Crete where Paul writes to him with some inspired ideas about Elders in the church, sound doctrine, good works and avoiding conflict. The last mention of Titus has him with Paul again during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome.

The Bible doesn't record his death but tradition has him dying in Crete in the year 107 AD at 95 tears of age. So we don't know a lot about Titus but we do know this, he was a faithful servant of God, doing what was asked of him. He was a faithful friend who Paul requested to join him over and over. How cool would that be, to be the guy Paul wants to have close by?

So what can we learn from Titus? Maybe we could learn from his name which means 'honor' or 'defender'. Maybe we could learn to be defenders of the faith who do so with honor. Being a defender of your faith might mean a little extra time going forward in the Bible or with your catechism. And I like the 'honor' title as well, it fits Titus. To me that means he did his work with integrity and pride. We can work for the Lord with that same integrity and pride.

The church needs faithful, active friends like Titus. We need men and women who will do what is asked of them. People who we can count on as friends in the faith. 2Cor 7:6 says 'Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.' Sounds like Titus was a great guy to have around, a positive upbeat guy who lifted everyone's spirits. Paul adds a little proof to this by concluding his letter to Titus saying 'everyone with me sends you greetings'. Titus was the guy everyone loved and wanted to count as a friend. We can be a Titus in our own church.

I know I'm not the only one who never thought much about Titus. I guess mostly because he's not a big name like Paul or Peter. Yet for this very reason, Titus may be for us the best example of one who works diligently for God, doing what is asked of him with a faithful heart and a positive spirit, not concerned about credit or recognition. Faithful people like Titus are what makes God's church powerful and effective. May God grant each of us a Titus heart this week!

Blest Regards,
Keith