Please read this passage before reading the homily.
Paul writes to Timothy. He is an old man, and he has been poured out like a libation. The moment of his leaving has arrived.
He has fought the good fight, he has run the race to its end, and he has persevered in the faith. He looks forward to the crown promised him. On the other hand, he is disappointed by his companions who have left him alone.
Paul has arrived at the end of his life. He looks forward to his crown from the hand of God. He has no fear from his life because of his hope in God. Paul at the end of his life has put his hope in God’s mercy and not in his own works.
Today is World Mission Sunday. St Paul gave his life to bring pagans to know Christ. The mission of the whole Church, bishops, priests, and all of you, is to preach the good news of the resurrection of Christ and our hope of sharing in the resurrection with Christ.
Like Paul, the Great Apostle of the Gentiles, we have to preach the good news of Christ. At the end of his life, he had no fear for his faults and failings, but he put his hope in the mercy of God. It is not important whether we are great or small apostles. What is important is that we preach the good news of Christ to others. In our preaching, we shall at times make mistakes, but the mercy of God has prepared a crown of glory for us. We have to put our hope in God’s mercy.
The undersides of cars, clothing and everything built, that is, the parts we cannot see, are useful, but they are not beautiful. The topsides of things, the part we can see, are beautiful. In our lives the things we see often seem problematic and ugly, but their foundation rests on the beauty of our life in Christ. It is the mercy of God that changes our imperfections into the glory of God.
We struggle in our daily lives to make the goal. This is why we hope to receive the crown of glory which the Lord has promised us.