Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
The Epistle to Titus
For all three years, the lectionary schedules readings from Titus for Christmas Eve (Titus 2:11-14) and day (Titus 3:4-7).
Titus is another letter the apostle Paul almost definitely didn't write; it bears his name because of the common practice of regular people attributing their writing to a famous person. Titus was one of Paul's ministry companions, and probably a pastor-mission overseer for house churches in Crete.
The letter to Titus was one of reformer Martin Luther's favorites. He described it as, "…a short epistle, but a model of Christian doctrine, in which is comprehended in a masterful way all that is necessary for a Christian to know and to live." I'm sure he loved the reference to Jesus as "grace" with appeared and manifestation that describe an epiphany, a bright revelation of the Divine.
The strong sense of paranaesis or exhortation to good works in this short passage happens because its strong declaration of God's gracious presence and action inspire– compel – us to loving mercy, service, justice, and compassion. God's people, with zeal for good deeds? Yes! Remember, this was one of Luther's favorites!
From Gian-Carlo Menotti's one-act opera, Ahmal and the Night Visitors:
The child we seek holds the seas and the winds on his palm.
The child we seek has the moon and the stars at his feet.
Before him, the eagle is gentle the lion is meek.
On love, on love alone will he build his kingdom…
His might will not be built on your toil.
Swifter than lightning he will soon walk among us.
He will bring us new life and receive our death.
And the keys to his city belong to the poor.
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