We had been hearing readings from Paul’s letter to the Colossians and his first letter to the Thessalonians these past several weeks in our daily Masses. 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 was the son of Jewish and Gentile parents. Paul instructed Timothy in his conversion to the Way of Jesus. Timothy accompanied Paul on his second and third missionary journeys. Paul also often sent Timothy on special missions. Timothy was working as the administrator of the community in Ephesus when Paul wrote this letter to him.
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 Gentiles in those early years of Christianity, a time when many thought that salvation through Christ was only meant for the Jews. Paul received this calling from God while traveling on the road to Damascus in a very direct and obvious way, being knocked off his horse. 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, of being knocked off a horse, but nonetheless, we all have a call from God to bring his Gospel to others. We receive a constant call to conversion, transformation, and renewal. 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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