Many Catholics first get involved with the Church through money – such as helping with various fundraisers. Some Catholics serve as ushers, taking up the collection baskets at Mass. Others count or deposit the collection. Still others serve the Church as accountants, business managers, or on parish finance councils. St. Titus is a good patron saint for these faithful people.
One of the primary ministries of St. Titus was to accompany St. Paul on a relief mission. As a response to the prophecy of Agabus about a worldwide famine (Acts 11:28), St. Paul set off throughout Asia Minor and Greece to take up a collection for the suffering people of the Holy Land, much like every Pope does today. Titus served as essentially a "captain" of Paul's fundraising team. He concentrated especially on the collections in Greece and Macedonia (2 Cor 8:16-23).
The Church needs trustworthy men and women who raise funds, but even more, who also raise faith. Praise God for these blessed servants! St. Titus also combined fundraising with faith-raising. He was trustworthy and remained attracted to God rather than money (Mt 6:24). Yet Titus understood that working with money was an important part of the ministry God gave him. Rather than shrink back from this responsibility, Titus stepped forward with zeal, faith, and charity (2 Cor 8:16ff). Titus, unlike Judas Iscariot, was trustworthy in using money for God's Kingdom and not for selfish gain. Be a Titus.
| PRAYER: | Father, I place all the money You have given me into Your hands. |
| PROMISE: | "May grace, mercy, and peace be yours from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." —2 Tm 1:2 |
| PRAISE: | "Thanks be to God, Who has put an equal zeal for you in the heart of Titus!" (2 Cor 8:16) |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College