Sunday Vigil
Reading of the Word of God
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
1 Thessalonians 4,9-11
As for brotherly love, there is no need to write to you about that, since you have yourselves learnt from God to love one another, and in fact this is how you treat all the brothers throughout the whole of Macedonia. However, we do urge you, brothers, to go on making even greater progress and to make a point of living quietly, attending to your own business and earning your living, just as we told you to,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
If you believe, you will see the glory of God,
thus says the Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Paul begins this part of the letter by referring to the authority of Jesus. And in his name, he shows what "pleases God," what "his will" is. He offers this exhortation as a prayer, so decisive does he feel it is. The Thessalonians already know how to behave in order to please God: the Apostle himself had shown them this when he was with them, both by example and by teaching. They must persevere in this way, indeed, distinguish themselves even more in walking it, to holiness. God's will is our sanctification, that is, to belong in everything to God, and thus to be far from the world and free from its bonds. The apostle then warns against the thirst for gain and greed that lead to overpowering others and humiliating them. God, the apostle emphasises, "did not call us to impurity but in holiness," that is, to abandon self-centred and violent behaviour in order to turn towards him and make of his Word the light for our steps. Therefore, the one who despises these precepts despises God himself, while the one who abides in "holiness" abides in love. This is why the Apostle adds: "Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed, you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more." If love is the Spirit poured by God into the hearts of believers, the Spirit himself is the inner teacher who guides every disciple. Fraternal love, in fact, is not a precept of human beings, it is the new commandment that Jesus gave to the disciples of all times making it the hallmark of their bond with him. And it is a gift that must be lived in an ever-widening way. No one can rest on the love that is already there; it itself asks to grow and expand.