“For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus… I am speaking the truth; I am not lying… It is my wish then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.” 1 Timothy 2: 5-8
I read and reread this passage about a dozen times. I was attracted to these verses like a magnet to steel. At first I thought it was Paul’s declaration about “speaking the truth, he was not lying.” I found that intriguing as I have never thought that Paul was lying in anything that he recorded in his letters. That may have been the sparkle that caught my eye, but the substance of the verses is what caused me to continually read the passage.
There is one mediator, Christ Jesus. There is one mediator, Christ Jesus. There is one mediator, Christ Jesus. Let me put this in a human context for a moment: If I were ever in trouble with the law, I would want to have legal representation that would know me and my proverbial case well so that they could mediate on my behalf. I would spend as much time as I could sharing my story with legal counsel so that my case could be portrayed accurately.
Now, after our earthly journey is complete, we will need to account for the actions of our human life. At the hour of our death, we will want someone to mediate for us on our behalf. This passage tells us who we must put our trust in, “There is one mediator, Christ Jesus.” It is up to each of us to develop that relationship with Jesus in our own lives here on earth.
At St. Joseph Catholic Community, the parish council currently has three Wildly Important Goals, which we call WIGs. These three goals are meant to guide our work in and around the parish. The first WIG is to “Help people know where they are in their Spiritual development.”
In layman’s terms, this WIG asks, “How deep is your relationship with Jesus?”
Are you seeking a deeper relationship with our Lord so that he will mediate on your behalf in your hour of need? How willing are you to speak up about your faith so that others might get to know, love and serve the Lord more deeply because of what they see, hear, and know about you and your relationship with Him? Is our parish growing in faith, membership, and hospitality because of you and how you interact with each person that you meet in our community?
These are questions that I ask myself and I invite you to join me in checking in on these questions in your own life each week.
We are told, “No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and mammon (material wealth).” We have but one life to live, and may each of us proclaim this, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
In closing, I have an invitation for each of you who are seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus. In the next few weeks, we will be hosting a ‘Christ Renews His Parish’ experience for both men and women (ages 18 and up) here at St. Joseph. The men’s weekend is next weekend, Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 and the women’s weekend is Oct. 14-15. You can pick up a registration form at the back of the church or in the school or parish office, or on our parish website. You will eat well, laugh often, and will most likely form a deeper love for “the one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Have a blessed week!
