Homily for Friday, 23d Week of Ordinary Time

Homily for Friday
23d Week of Ordinary Time

Sept. 10, 2021
1 Tim 1: 1-2, 12-14
Ursulines, Willow Dr., New Rochelle, N.Y.

“I am grateful to him who has strengthened me (1 Tim 1: 12).

Today we begin several days of reading from 1 Timothy, Paul’s letter to a dearly beloved disciple who was like a son to him (1:2).  It’s a kind of a testament at the end of Paul’s life, with personal advice for Timothy and directions for church administration.

After his affectionate greeting, Paul launches into praise to God for his mercy.  Paul has always been aware of his faults, his sins, and his weakness, and he’s grateful that God has dealt mercifully with him and even used him, unworthy tho he is, as an instrument for the salvation of others.

So Paul speaks for us.  Aren’t we, also, in our twilight years, much closer to the end of our days than their beginning?  Aren’t we aware of the failings of our younger days?  Paul invites us, also, to be aware of God’s mercies toward us, such as forgiveness, our vocation (including sisterhood and brotherhood), our being his instruments to assist the salvation of many girls and young women, many boys, parishioners, and others.  So we, too, are grateful to God for his many mercies and pray he continue to bless us and those who are dear to us, as Timothy was to Paul.