Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

We have been reassured about you, brothers and sisters, in our every distress and affliction, through your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:7

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy had to get out of town because they were being threatened and persecuted by Jews and Greeks alike. After a few months passed, naturally these Christian missionaries became worried that their newly founded community at Thessalonica was being persecuted and falling apart.

Paul expresses how much they really cared and what was at stake for them: “For what is our hope or joy or crown to boast of in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming if not you yourselves? For you are our glory and joy!” (1 Thes. 2:19-20) Paul and his missionary partners took their work of winning souls for Christ seriously and considered it part of their own salvation.

But thank God! Timothy returned with the good news that the church at Thessalonica was alive and well—even in the face of affliction and persecution. Indeed, the missionaries warned them that they would be maltreated in the name of Christ. Yet, they were taught to be not afraid nor shaken in their faith and in their love for one another.

For Today:
Our Lord Jesus said, “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) And again, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22) Ruminate on these verses today, and pray that our Father in heaven may not submit us to the final test but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:13)

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB