Today we begin to read from 1 Thessalonians, the earliest writing in the New Testament. The Gospels were not written until the 70’s & 80’s. Paul wrote his letters in the 50’s and Thessalonians is the first letter that he wrote. Paul had recently founded the church in Thessalonica and is now writing back to the church from the city of Corinth.
The message of this earliest NT writing is one of thankfulness: “We give thanks to God always for all of you.” Paul gives thanks for the church in Thessalonica and for our present-day church. He gives thanks for our faith, love, and hope:
“We give thanks to God…remembering you in our prayers…calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Like these first Christians we have received the “Gospel…in power and in the Holy Spirit.” Paul gives a simple summary of the content of this Gospel and our response, we “turned…to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven…who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Let us join Paul today in giving thanks: we give thanks to God for the gift of our faith, for our parish, for the churches throughout the word and for all of those who by their words but especially by their deeds embody the Gospel message of welcome, compassion, and love. Let us give thanks!