In a country that can over emphasize individual accomplish, it is good that, the day after we celebrate St. Paul, we celebrate two of his companions who served as bishops, Sts. Timothy and Titus. While most of Paul's letters that we consider to have been inspired by God are ones written to churches in various cites, two personal letters to Timothy, and one to Titus are considered inspired by God and included in the New Testament.
One has only to read the first words to see the particular love Paul felt for each.
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear child:
and
Paul, a slave of God and Apostle of Jesus Christ for the sake of the faith of God’s chosen ones...to Titus, my true child in our common faith:
The Apostles understood their mission as being one of spreading the word and therefore never settled in one place very long. Instead, they appointed Bishops, like Timothy and Titus, to oversee the local churches.
Timothy and Titus were clearly not the only Bishops named by Paul nor the only ones with whom he corresponded, but clearly there was something special about these two companions that the Holy Spirit inspired the two Letters to Timothy and one to Titus.
Neither Peter, Paul, nor even Jesus could carry out their mission without the love and assistance of others. Why do we still after more than 2000 years later think that there is some virtue in doing something alone?
