The core of the call: Saint Paul writes his first letter to Timothy, Chapter 3 verses 1-7: “The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way - for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.”
The core of the call:
Saint Paul writes his first letter to Timothy, Chapter 3 verses 1-7:
“The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a
noble task. Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once,
temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, not a
drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of
money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children
submissive and respectful in every way - for if someone does not know
how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s
church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with
conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must
be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and
the snare of the devil.”
Saint Paul wrote his letter to Titus right around the same time he wrote
his first letter to Timothy. In Chapter 1, verse 7-9, we read:
“For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be
arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for
gain; but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright,
devout, and self-controlled. He must have a firm grasp of the Word that
is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able
both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict
it.”
Let us pray. Lord, let us further reflect on the writings of Saint Paul this
day, as he wrote in his second letter to Timothy, chapter 3, verses 16 &
17: “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for
reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that
everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every
good work”.
May Your Holy Church continue to draw on the Scripture and Sacred
Tradition in how we discern our leadership, emanating from the grace of
God, the inspiration of the Spirit, and the salvation of Jesus Christ, our
Lord. Amen.
