Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

1 Thessalonians 2,1-8

You know yourselves, my brothers, that our visit to you has not been pointless. Although, as you know, we had received rough treatment and insults at Philippi, God gave us the courage to speak his gospel to you fearlessly, in spite of great opposition. Our encouragement to you does not come from any delusion or impure motives or trickery. No, God has approved us to be entrusted with the gospel, and this is how we preach, seeking to please not human beings but God who tests our hearts. Indeed, we have never acted with the thought of flattering anyone, as you know, nor as an excuse for greed, God is our witness; nor have we ever looked for honour from human beings, either from you or anybody else, when we could have imposed ourselves on you with full weight, as apostles of Christ. Instead, we lived unassumingly among you. Like a mother feeding and looking after her children, we felt so devoted to you, that we would have been happy to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, so dear had you become.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Paul recalls the happy outcome of God's action in Thessalonica, where he had arrived after the sad experiences he had had in Philippi, where with Silvanus he had been flogged, thrown into prison, and finally forced to leave the city. Even in Thessalonica Paul proclaimed the Gospel of God "in the midst of much strife," but despite this he is neither discouraged nor despondent. His strength lies in his union with God that generates freedom and confidence to preach the Gospel. And with clarity the apostle states that his preaching is upright, sincere and free from self-interest, because he has received this task from God himself. And to God he is accountable. The apostle is aware that he must be pleasing only to God, and not to people, and therefore he does not go in search of peoples support. He preaches the gospel of God "whether the time is favourable and unfavourable" (2 Tim 4:2). He knows very well that he must banish from himself both ambition and greed, which would lead him away from the Gospel and from God himself. As an apostle he could have insisted on his authority and perhaps demanded respect and honours, instead he preferred the way of meekness, of selfless dedication to others. He behaved like a mother, a mother who offers her child not only milk but great love. This is the source of a true pastoral passion of the apostle who says: "So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves" (1 Thess 2:8). The proclamation of the Gospel always impels one to a superabundant love that leads to giving one's life; and it is thus that the apostle dedicates himself to preaching the Word of God not only with words, but with the example of his conduct in the community. When the Gospel is lived out in life, his preaching gains strength and effectiveness to change hearts.