The Kerygmatic Preaching of St. Paul

Homily for Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

The readings on the Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy joined to the Gospel text from the Gospel of St. Mark offer us a very good summary of the kerygmatic teaching of the earliest disciples.

First, St. Paul tells us that Jesus came to live among us to save us. The Scriptures relate to this particular tenet of our faith frequently and persuasively. Jesus saves. All we have to do is accept it.

Secondly, St. Paul tells us that Jesus not only saved us but called us to a holy life. That holy life can be accomplished by entering into a relationship with him. As we all know, relationships are two-way streets. Because God loves us, because Jesus saves us, we are called to respond to this love in kind. Because we love God, we also desire to live the kind of holy life to which God calls us. St. Paul also reminds us that living a holy life relies not on our own works but rather on God’s grace, freely given to us.

Finally, Jesus’ words to the Sadducees remind us that it is God’s grace that wins for us the resurrection of the body and life with God forever in heaven.

This is a neat package. Jesus saves. Jesus invites us to live in relationship. Our relationship with Jesus wins us eternal life.