This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved
and to come to knowledge of the truth. // 1 Timothy 2:3-4
“But why did he shoot that man?” my son asked, aghast, at the end of the film. “He could have repented!” The words of my child filled me with wonder at his faith. For the man in the film had been a cruel, heartless Nazi after the “good guy.” He seemed beyond redemption. But my son reminded me that we should have hope for everyone.
I come from generations of Catholics, those raised in the Faith who raised their children in the Faith. But also in my extended family are many who have cast aside their Catholic upbringing. I have friends who were close to God in their youth and now live separated from His grace. And the society we live in promotes lifestyles and choices that are contrary to what is good and true.
Saint Paul tells us in today’s First Reading to offer “supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings” for “everyone” (1 Timothy 2:1). He does not just say for those who are faithful and close to God. He does not say to pray once and then give up. He tells us that God “wills everyone to be saved” and that Jesus “gave himself as ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6). God desires to be united fully with all of us, no matter how little hope there seems to be for conversion.
Sister, it can be fatiguing to pray for the conversion of the same people day after day, people for whom we want the ultimate good. And it often feels like our prayers and efforts are not doing anything to bring about a change in our secular society. But we do not know the measure of the grace God pours out on others. We can never know in this life the full effect of our prayers. We can only know that it is good and pleasing to God for us to pray for others, to come to Him with faith on their behalf like the centurion in today’s Gospel and trust that they will be healed (see Luke 7:1-10).
