It is surely a cause for great wonderment that Jesus entrusted the continuation of his salvific work in the Church to us, very weak and often wayward human beings. Reading between the lines of the Letter to Timothy, we may guess that there were problems in the early Church about finding suitable leaders of the community. We sometimes have the impression that the early communities were all very dedicated and holy, very united and loving towards each other. No doubt a great many of them were indeed holy people, but Paul's letters let us see the dark side.

By proposing the qualities that ought to be expected in a candidate to be bishop or deacon, the Letter to Timothy suggests that there were in the community men who "indulged in drink" or were avaricious.

Against this background, we can all profitably pray today's Responsorial Psalm. The Psalmist does not affirm that he already walks perfectly in the way of integrity or that he never sets before his eyes "any base" thing. He rather says this will be his conduct, expressing a desire for greater goodness. With God's grace we can all lead a proper spiritual life, constant in our praise and of the Lord.