The Most Unlikely Person

Today's First Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12 -14

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, my true child in faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Consideration: Think of the most unlikely person who would become a saint. For the conservative, it could be any liberal. For the liberal, it could be any conservative. For the pro-life activist, it could President Obama. For the Catholic Traditionalist, it could anyone other than themselves and a few friends (kidding not kidding). The point is this: we don't know who the next blasphemer and persecutor of Christians turned evangelist and martyr of Christ will be. So why don't we stand in the gap for sinners - like Christ did for us - and beg for God's mercy and grace that will convert the soul of the person that offends us the most. You never know, he or she may be the next St. Paul the Apostle or St. Mary Magdalene ("the Apostle to the Apostles"). Deal? Deal.

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