A sinner of thy own redeeming

8 January 2007
I recently watched a live broadcast from the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.. It was the Memorial Service for the late Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States. Well, I had not been born when he was the president. No comment for his presidential years.
One interesting thing that I noticed was the prayer of the Bishop at the dismissal and blessing for Gerald Ford. He said, "Your servant Gerald…a sinner of Thy own redeeming."
I was perplexed when I heard that strange expression. What does it mean ‘a sinner of Thy own redeeming’?
I think it means that the redemption of Christ is intended to the single sinner, namely Gerald Ford. It is rather strange. Why would Christ die for a single sinner? Well, because I believe when He died on the cross he carried the burden of sins of each and everyone of us, including that one sinner– Gerald Ford. When He was on the cross, He had that name Gerald Ford right in front of His eyes. But actually, not only Ford, but also you and me and everyone else.
So for whom did Christ die? For whom is His redemption? For Gerald Ford, for me, for you, for all of us, because we are all ’sinners of Thy own redeeming’.