Transformed for Good: Living Out Our Redemption
November 12, 2024 - Tuesday, Memorial of Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Titus 2:1-8, 11-14
We all need images and metaphors to help us navigate life’s challenges and find direction. For example, life can be seen as a journey, and our “GPS” represents guidance and direction. The Fathers of the Church mapped the story of the Exodus to our Christian life: Egypt symbolizes slavery to sin, Pharaoh represents Satan, the Red Sea signifies the waters of baptism, the desert portrays our journey of faith with its challenges and temptations, and the Promised Land represents our ultimate destination—the Heavenly Jerusalem. In his letter to Titus, Paul reminds us of the roots and fulfillment of our faith: the incarnation of Christ and His second coming (see Titus 2:11-14).
The appearance of God's grace refers to Christ's incarnation. Jesus came to bring salvation to all people. What we are now awaiting is another appearance, referring to Christ's coming in glory. Notice that Paul calls Jesus Christ "our great God and Savior" (Titus 2:13). Between the incarnation of Christ and His second coming is the event that shattered the power of darkness and set us free: Jesus' crucifixion, an act of God's love for us. Jesus Christ "gave himself for us to redeem us" (Titus 2:14).
Jesus' sacrifice of His life for our sake has several profound consequences. First, Jesus has delivered all who put their trust in Him from all lawlessness. The term "all lawlessness" refers to sinful behaviors, attitudes, and lifestyles that reject God’s authority and moral standards. We were incapable of redeeming ourselves from this state. We needed a Savior—someone who is not subject to "all lawlessness." This Savior is Jesus Christ, who, through His incarnation, became one of us, like us in all things except sin (see Heb. 4:15).
Second, after redeeming us from "all lawlessness," Jesus also cleansed us. Imagine a little boy who, while playing on his grandpa’s farm, fell into a muddy pit. Covered in dirt and smelling terrible, he needed to be washed clean. Similarly, we were covered in the filth of sin and needed to be cleansed. Jesus' cleansing removes the stain of sin, a process that begins in the sacrament of baptism. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminded them of their former way of life, marked by all sorts of immoral behavior. But after they accepted the Gospel, put their faith in Christ, they were washed, sanctified, and justified "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor 6:11).
What is the purpose of redeeming us from "all lawlessness" and cleansing us from the stain of sin? Jesus Christ has done all of this so that we can be His people, belonging to Him alone, and be "eager to do what is good" (Titus 2:14). We have the testimony of those who met Christ, proclaiming that He did all things well (Mark 7:37), that He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). As Christ's followers, we have been transformed and enabled to do the same. Moreover, God has already prepared good works for us to do (see Eph. 2:10). Titus, for example, is instructed to be "a model of good deeds in every respect" (Titus 2:7). The apostle expects the same from the entire Christian community in Crete.
It is expected of us, as Christ's followers, to love God and love others, including our enemies. This love must be translated into concrete actions. Each generation of Christians needs to discern the good works that God has prepared beforehand for us to do. Let us be mindful that as we await the "blessed hope" of Christ’s return (Titus 2:13), every act of love and kindness becomes a testimony of His presence in the world.