24th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 18th September 2023

The passage from the first reading in the letter to Timothy is a long exhortation by Paul on “household duties”. If, in his earlier letters, Paul references the “duties” related to husband-wife, parent-child, and master-slave, this time, he addresses it to the whole community. He provides guidelines on what kind of conduct should befit a member of God’s household, the Church of God.

Paul asks the Church to pray for the civil rulers and to lead “quiet and tranquil lives” according to the Gospel. Paul’s advice not only aims to make the Church exist in “perfect piety and dignity” but also to have a missionary edge. The prayers and witnessing of the Church will please the civic rulers and other citizens, and they may come to believe in the Lord Jesus. Therefore, Paul’s idea of the Church is open to all and sees Christian life as fully compatible with good citizenship in the empire.

The story described in the Gospel is linked to the debate in the early Church concerning the mission to the Gentiles. Interestingly, the Jewish elders and community leaders mediate between the gentile centurion and Jesus. They intercede, that is, speak on behalf of the centurion. This intercession and the centurion’s faith, leads Jesus to heal the centurion’s servant.

Today’s Scripture passages remind us that we should never fail to pray for our civil rulers and witness our faith in Jesus to people around us with “quiet and tranquil lives”. We should also intercede for them.

Lord, may I intercede for others.