We
had been hearing readings from Paul’s letter to the Colossians these past two
weeks. Today, we turn to Paul’s first
letter to Timothy. Most of Paul’s
letters are addressed to various Christian communities, but this letter was addressed
to Timothy, the leader of a community. Timothy, the son of Jewish and Gentile
parents, was converted to the faith by Paul.
Timothy accompanied Paul on his second and third missionary
journeys. Paul also often sent him on
special missions. Timothy was working as
the administrator of the community in Ephesus when he received this letter from Paul.
Paul tells Timothy that he, Paul, was found to
be worthy by God to be his messenger, a reminder that anyone can become God’s
messenger at any time if they are willing to convert and become a true
believer. Paul
was a famous persecutor of the Early Church, yet God called him to become the
main messenger to the Gentile in those early years of Christianity at a time
when many thought that salvation through Christ was only meant for the
Jews. Paul
received this call while traveling on the road to Damascus in a very direct and
obvious way. All
of us receive a calling from God as well, a calling every day by virtue of our
baptism in Christ. Sometimes that
calling is not as clear and direct as that call Paul received, but it is
there nonetheless. Conversion and transformation and renewal is something to which we are
constantly called. Paul
found his joy in Christ and in his new life as his disciple. May we find joy in that calling as well.
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