Qualifications and Compassion

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek competence and compassion in our action to help the people in our environment materially and spiritually.

Care and Community

The Reading from the First Letter to Timothy defines the Qualifications of Various Ministers.

* [3:1–7] The passage begins by commending those who aspire to the office of bishop (episkopos; see note on Phil 1:1) within the community, but this first sentence (1 Tm 3:1) may also imply a warning about the great responsibilities involved. The writer proceeds to list the qualifications required: personal stability and graciousness; talent for teaching (1 Tm 3:2); moderation in habits and temperament (1 Tm 3:3); managerial ability (1 Tm 3:4); and experience in Christian living (1 Tm 3:5–6). Moreover, the candidate’s previous life should provide no grounds for the charge that he did not previously practice what he now preaches. No list of qualifications for presbyters appears in 1 Timothy. The presbyter-bishops here and in Titus (see note on Ti 1:5–9) lack certain functions reserved here for Paul and Timothy. (1 Timothy, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

In Psalm 101 the king promises to be a ruler after God’s own heart.

* [Psalm 101] The king, grateful at being God’s chosen (Ps 101:1), promises to be a ruler after God’s own heart (Ps 101:2–3), allowing into the royal service only the God-fearing (Ps 101:3–8). (Psalms, PSALM 101 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke proclaims Jesus Raising of the Widow’s Son.

* [7:11–17] In the previous incident Jesus’ power was displayed for a Gentile whose servant was dying; in this episode it is displayed toward a widowed mother whose only son has already died. Jesus’ power over death prepares for his reply to John’s disciples in Lk 7:22: “the dead are raised.” This resuscitation in alluding to the prophet Elijah’s resurrection of the only son of a widow of Zarephath (1 Kgs 17:17–24) leads to the reaction of the crowd: “A great prophet has arisen in our midst” (Lk 7:16). (Luke, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Gladyce Janky shares that her takeaway from the reading is the importance of prayer, responding to suffering, and noticing how God shows up.

In the face of pain and suffering, mine or someone else’s, this reading encourages me to keep asking God to intercede, no matter how hopeless I perceive the situation.  Why?  Because God wants to be invited into the joys and sorrows of life.  The only requirement of me is to ask for help, and trust that God will show up, especially in the midst of extreme human suffering. 

I also hear that God hopes I experience a visceral, deep-felt sense of compassion that moves me toward seeking the greater good, such as reconciliation, restoration of human dignity, etc..  Jesus’ response to the widow is huge, but no action is too small or insignificant.  With God’s help, simply attempting to shift the tone of one conversation, offer words of encouragement to a worker in God’s vineyard, or just one invitation for dialogue can change the world. (Janky, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “The dead man who meets the Life and the Resurrection,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)

"The dead man was being buried, and many friends were conducting him to his tomb. Christ, the life and resurrection, meets him there. He is the Destroyer of death and of corruption. He is the One in whom we live and move and are (Acts 17:28). He is who has restored the nature of man to that which it originally was and has set free our death-fraught flesh from the bonds of death. He had mercy upon the woman, and that her tears might be stopped, he commanded saying, 'Weep not.' Immediately the cause of her weeping was done away."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 36) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 7:11-17 notes that Jesus steps forward and touches the coffin. With this action, Jesus runs the risk of becoming ritually unclean. Yet he doesn’t hesitate for a moment.

But Jesus goes even further. Just as he touched the casket, he reaches out to touch you and bring healing to every part of your life. Maybe he will bring reconciliation and life to a difficult family situation. Or maybe he will help you see and uproot a pattern of sin that is plaguing you. No matter how he does it, Jesus will reach out to you with his loving mercy. So be alert for his presence! Be ready to receive him when he comes to you today.

“Jesus, you know my needs. Thank you for showing me your healing compassion.” (Meditation on Luke 7:11-17, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the reading from 1 Timothy gives instructions to bishops and deacons about living a virtuous life. This passage shows a more developed ecclesiology than in Paul’s time. Bishops and deacons will have a solid marriage. Women deacons, (could also be translated as wife), are required to follow the same instructions. In Paul’s letters, there were female deacons. Being married a second time indicated a lack of self control. Ministers need to control their household. Near Nain, Jesus encounters a widow with a son who had died. She will be living a life of desolation and misery. Friar Jude reminds us a reanimation is not a resurrection. The Widow’s son, Lazarus, and the daughter of Jarius will eventually die again.  Friar Jude notes that the people conclude that If Jesus has the gift of life, He is truly from God and represents God to the people.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces cultural critic bell hooks (1952–2001) who reminds us to nurture the self-love that is our birthright.

Self-love is the foundation of our loving practice. Without it our other efforts to love fail. Giving ourselves love we provide our inner being with the opportunity to have the unconditional love we may have always longed to receive from someone else…. We can give ourselves the unconditional love that is the grounding for sustained acceptance and affirmation. When we give this precious gift to ourselves, we are able to reach out to others from a place of fulfillment and not from a place of lack…. 

In an ideal world we would all learn in childhood to love ourselves. We would grow, being secure in our worth and value, spreading love wherever we went, letting our light shine. If we did not learn self-love in our youth, there is still hope. The light of love is always in us, no matter how cold the flame. It is always present, waiting for the spark to ignite, waiting for the heart to awaken and call us back to the first memory of being the life force inside a dark place waiting to be born—waiting to see the light. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit to guide our action especially when we seem to be in tension between standards for ministers in Christianity and Jesus' unreserved love and compassion for all people in need.

References

Janky, G. (2025, September 16). Daily Reflection September 16, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-16-2025 

Luke, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/7?11 

Meditation on Luke 7:11-17. (n.d.). Homepage. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/09/16/1383561/ 

1 Timothy, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/3?1 

Psalms, PSALM 101 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/101?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Learning to Love Ourselves. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/learning-to-love-ourselves/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Lord Had Compassion on Her. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 16, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep16 

Revelation and Repentance

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to reflect on our connection with the experience of revelation of the Love of God that resonates with the experience of Paul on the road to Damascus. 

Revelation on the Road

The reading from the Letter to the Philippians shares Paul’s Autobiography and his regard of everything as loss.

* [3:3] We are the circumcision: the true people of God, seed and offspring of Abraham (Gal 3:7, 29; 6:15). Spirit of God: some manuscripts read “worship God by the Spirit.”

* [3:5] Circumcised on the eighth day: as the law required (Gn 17:12; Lv 12:3).

* [3:7] Loss: his knowledge of Christ led Paul to reassess the ways of truly pleasing and serving God. His reevaluation indicates the profound and lasting effect of his experience of the meaning of Christ on the way to Damascus some twenty years before (Gal 1:15–16; Acts 9:1–22). (Philippians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches repentance in the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.

* [15:1–32] To the parable of the lost sheep (Lk 15:1–7) that Luke shares with Matthew (Mt 18:12–14), Luke adds two parables (the lost coin, Lk 15:8–10; the prodigal son, Lk 15:11–32) from his own special tradition to illustrate Jesus’ particular concern for the lost and God’s love for the repentant sinner. (Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Joy over the fallen sinner restored in God's image”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"This second parable compares what was lost to a drachma (Luke 15:8-9). It is as one out of ten, a perfect number and of a sum complete in the accounting. The number ten also is perfect, being the close of the series from the unit upwards. This parable clearly shows that we are in the royal likeness and image, even that of God over all. I suppose the drachma is the denarius on which is stamped the royal likeness. We, who had fallen and had been lost, have been found by Christ and transformed by holiness and righteousness into his image... A search was made for that which had fallen, so the woman lighted a lamp... By the light, what was lost is saved, and there is joy for the powers above. They rejoice even in one sinner that repents, as he who knows all things has taught us. They keep a festival over one who is saved, united with the divine purpose, and never cease to praise the Savior's gentleness. What great joy must fill them when all beneath heaven is saved and Christ calls them by faith to acknowledge the truth? They put off the pollution of sin and freed their necks from the bonds of death. They have escaped from the blame of their wandering and fall! We gain all these things in Christ."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 106) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 15:1-10 comments that we don’t want to assume from this parable that Jesus is more concerned about some sinners than others. According to St. Luke, Jesus addressed this parable to the Pharisees and scribes (15:3). He wanted them to see that they were the lost sheep just as much as any tax collector was. He wanted them to recognize their own sins so that they could change. He wanted them to let him “find” them and carry them to his Father, just as he was doing for everyone else.

Jesus came to help every lost sinner—including you. It doesn’t matter how big or small or frequent or infrequent your sins are. Jesus cares about every part of your life, both the parts that you fear are beyond his reach and the parts that wander from him at times. Will you let him find you?

“Jesus, thank you for seeking me out, especially when I get myself lost in sin!” (Meditation on Luke 15:1-10, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler notes that Paul counters those pushing Jewish practices with his own experience as a faithful member of the tribe of Benjamin. The call of Jeremiah to be a prophet to the Gentiles is fulfilled by Paul. Friar Jude reminds us of the desire of Jesus to reach out to heal our brokenness and of the special attention of Luke to the role of women.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Michael Curry who reflects on the description of God’s expansive love found in the Bible.

Love is a commitment to seek the good and to work for the good and welfare of others. It doesn’t stop at our front door or our neighborhood, our religion or race, or our state’s or your country’s border. This is one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth, as the hymn goes…. 

Where selfishness excludes, love makes room and includes. Where selfishness puts down, love lifts up. Where selfishness hurts and harms, love helps and heals. Where selfishness enslaves, love sets free and liberates.  

The way of love will show us the right thing to do, every single time. It is moral and spiritual grounding—and a place of rest—amid the chaos that is often part of life. It’s how we stay decent in indecent times. Loving is not always easy, but like with muscles, we get stronger both with repetition and as the burden gets heavier. And it works. (Rohr, n.d.)

We ponder the encounter of Paul with Christ and reflect on the revelation of God in our lives that invites us to trust our brokenness to the Love of God.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/15?1 

Meditation on Luke 15:1-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/11/07/1124197/ 

Philippians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/3?3 

Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/love-takes-commitment/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=nov7