1 Tim 4:12-16 / Luke 7:36-50
One of the challenges that the parishes and organizations face is this lack of candidates for succession planning.
Actually, it is not so much of a lack but rather reluctance to accept the nomination or even to a surprise election to the post.
There could be many possible reasons here - prior commitments, lack of confidence, feeling of inadequacy and unworthiness, etc.
In the 1st reading, St. Paul told Timothy not to let his age (just because he was young) to be an obstacle.
Rather, he must be an example to all the believers in the way he speaks and behave, and in his love, his faith and his purity.
Nonetheless, for a young man to face the seniors of the community can be quite daunting.
But if the youth of a leader can be the cause of disdain, then what about sinfulness or a bad name.
In the gospel, a woman who had a bad name (probably a public sinner) came up to Jesus while He was having dinner and anointed His feet with ointment.
Of course that raised eyebrows but the host and those present were silent until Jesus took up the matter.
The teaching point of Jesus is that sin and other iniquities can be forgiven, and hence inadequacy and unworthiness is certainly not an issue where God is concerned.
God is certainly much bigger than our sinfulness and unworthiness. Let not our sinfulness and unworthiness be the obstacles of God's gracious and loving call to serve Him.