Monday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 431

Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.




Saint Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians may not be the first Christian document ever written, but it is the oldest surviving one. We can only imagine its impact on the people of Thessalonica. Without modern communications or even a reliable postal service, the congregation was ecstatic to receive this letter. They would recognize in its words, phrases and message the voice of their Apostle. He may be far away but he is close to us in the Lord. He has not forgotten us. 

Amid all the nonsense that passes for religion and assailed by shysters who soak the gullible, the Church could still believe in this good man from Tarsus. He was very concerned about them because some of their members had died and the survivors feared the dead had not been saved. 

In the VA hospital I meet intelligent, articulate men and women who have not been well educated in the faith. Some entertain the strangest ideas about religion. I told one fellow, "You get your religion from the History Channel." 

There are endless speculations on unfathomable mysteries of our faith.

• What "actually" happened when Jesus was raised from the dead? -- as if what "actually happened" is not what we say happened.
• Was Mary Magdalene his girl friend?
• How does the Eucharist become the Body and Blood of Jesus? 
• Will the world end next week? 
• They have found Noah's Ark! 
• and so forth... endlessly....

The problem isn't so much that these are unanswerable questions but they waste valuable time in which they might be contemplating divine revelation. Is it better to stand in awe at the rim of the Grand Canyon or to try to figure out how it got that way without consulting a geologist or geomorphologist? The true scientist might do both, but the bonehead with his history channel religion wallows around in ignorance. Worse, this confuses and discourages others who hear his voluble opinions. 

I am all for study of our doctrines but the research should be responsible. Know your own tradition first before you listen to alien opinions about it. 

In this first letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul explained as best he could how the Last Day might play out; but first he reassured them there is nothing to be afraid of. He also implies, "When it happens, you'll know it!" 

For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, 

You will certainly here that voice and trumpet. Saint Matthew would later explain the whole world from east to west will know it. 

In the meanwhile, consider the Goodness of God. Reflect on that; ponder it; let it seep into the darkest places of your mind and heal every fear, misunderstanding, preconception and trauma. Gaze on the crucifix and the tabernacle and the face of Mary.  There is sweetness your heart will love and your mind will know as refreshment.