Please read the passage before the homily:
The dominant political figure in the ancient world was the Roman Emperor. Ephesus seems to have had an especially strong devotion to the emperor. It seems that Timothy was in the area of Ephesus when Paul wrote to Timothy. Paul may be the reason Paul advised that Timothy lead the people in praying for all those in authority. When the Romans would heard that the Christians were praying for them, the Romans could give the Christians the same free pass given to the Jewish people.
No matter who would be in charge, Paul would have us pray so that we can live a quiet and tranquil life. Paul explains that it is God’s will that everybody be saved.
This applies to us, for we live in a divided country. We should be praying for our leaders, the President, members of Congress and the Supreme Court, as well as state officers. We should be doing this, not because we like them and we want them to continue in office and not because we do not like them and want them out of office. We are praying for them so that we all can live a quiet life in all devotion and dignity.
We should be praying for our officials because we have been anointed by God as Christians to share in Christ’s work as mediator between God and us. In our praying we should be without anger or argument. We are praying in the truth that comes from God.
It does not matter who our elected or appointed leaders are, they have a right to our prayers. The greatness of a people comes, not from the leaders, but from the gracious goodness of God, to whom, in the name of Christ, we commend our leaders. Our response is to share the greatness by passing it along to the next group of peoples.