26th October 2008 (Last after Trinity)
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Matthew 24:1-14
Paul’s visit to Thessalonica is described in Acts 17:1-10. Paul and Silas had gone there from Philippi, where they had been flogged and put in jail. In Thessalonica Paul adopted his usual practice of going to the synagogue on the Sabbath and taking the opportunity to explain how the Scriptures predicted that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead. Then he would tell them about Jesus. His claim that Jesus was the Messiah met with a mixed reaction: some believed, others opposed him, especially when non-Jewish attenders at the synagogue decided to follow Jesus.
In that situation it took some daring for Paul and Silas to share the good news of Jesus. Their opponents stirred up trouble, which meant they had to flee; however, they sent their co-worker Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on them and help them, for they knew the Christians there would be having a hard time. This letter was written in response to the encouraging report Timothy was able to bring back.
The Christians in Thessalonica were indeed being persecuted – but they were standing firm. They needed to be reassured about the message, however, and that is what Paul is doing in this passage. He reminds them that he and Silas were not the sort of travelling preacher – common in those days – who were simply out to con people out of their cash. On the contrary, they supported themselves (v.9 – see next week) and kept open house for the benefit of those who were interested in their message (v.8). They were not preaching made up stories, they were not preaching for financial gain, but the message was as genuine as their love was genuine.
Paul and Silas would have been entitled to expect their hearers to provide them with financial support – that was common practice among the Christian apostles, and perhaps among other religious teachers of the day. But Paul wanted to live the gospel as well as preach it, and his love for the Thessalonians motivated him to take great risks and make great sacrifices for them. It truly was love in action.
The gospel reading reminds us that God wants all of us to show such love. The question the Pharisees asked Jesus was one they had often debated. If they were hoping for an unorthodox reply, they were disappointed, for Jesus’ answer (quoting Deuteronomy) was one many others would have given. God wants a deep relationship with us: he wants us to have a love for him that is not superficial, but involves our whole being and whole life.
Jesus did not stop there. He went on to place another commandment by the side of the first – the command from Leviticus to love our neighbour as ourselves. This command is very practical: in the same way that we naturally look after our own needs and interests, we are to look after the needs and interests of our neighbours. Jesus’ teaching elsewhere shows that he gives the word ‘neighbour’ a very broad sense, even including our enemies! This is the kind of love Paul and Silas demonstrated, and we are called to follow their example, as best fits our own situations.
Questions:
1) What kind of an example of love do we give? How could we do better?
2) What encouraged the apostles and the new Christians to remain firm in their faith despite persecution? What can we learn from them?