On this Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Scripture lessons emphasize God's will to save the lost. In particular, we see this in the second or epistle lesson from I Timothy 1:12-17. The Apostle Paul points out how Christ sought him out to serve Him. Speaking of himself and others, Paul summarizes the Christian message in I Timothy 1:15, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...."
Nowadays, some polite Christians may hesitate to speak of people being lost sinners who need to be saved. However, Scripture in general and our Lord Jesus Christ, in particular, are not hesitant to speak of lost sinners who need to be saved. According to Holy Scripture, all human beings have fallen into sin and need to be saved by divine grace. Even the best human beings are spiritually lost and need to be found by Christ and His Church.
Like St. Paul, each of us should acknowledge that we are sinners who need a Savior. All of us are fallen sinners. All of us have been lost, and we all have a tendency to wander repeatedly. So we all depend upon divine mercy, grace, and persistence in seeking us out-- in the past, in the present, and in each new day. God in Christ continues to seek us through Word and Sacrament, and we need to be open to being found by Him.
So let us be open to God’s work in our lives. Let us accept the salvation Christ offers, and let us respond in gratitude by sharing the message with others. May each of us acknowledge our Savior, and may each of us do our small part to speak of His work to others!
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