‘As for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good’ 

‘A pheidiwch chwithau, frodyr a chwiorydd, â blino ar wneud daioni’ (2Thess 3:13)

Have you ever visited Greece or one of the Greek Islands? I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to do so. Saint Paul visited Northern Greece, founded Churches, and  wrote his earliest letters to a Christian community there. Thessalonica is now the second largest city in Greece. It was always important as a trading port, and also lay on the Via Egnatia, the route which connected the Adriatic Sea in the West with the Black Sea in the East. In Thessalonica the Christian community grew out of the synagogue. Because Paul, trained as a Pharisee, he began his evangelism within the community and traditions in which he had been raised. However, relations deteriorated and the new Christians found themselves facing persecution from the synagogue and its members. This, understandably, led the Christian community to focus, even to fixate, upon the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. They imagined that Our Lord’s Return was immanent, and that He would come back, and sort everything out.

Some people, however, took advantage of the situation as an excuse for laziness, and relying upon the generosity of others. Such behaviour was bound to attract the attention of St Paul. As well as being a religious and legal expert, Paul was a tent-maker. While he was in Corinth he lodged with Priscilla and Aquila, who also made their living through this trade, and perhaps he aided them in their work during his stay. The Apostle did not wish to be a burden for the communities he visited as he travelled around the Mediterranean proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

In our epistle this morning, Paul begins by issuing a stern warning:

‘Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.’ (2Thess 3:6)

The Christian Community was not supposed to a place for idle freeloaders. It was a place where people lived out generous love, but of course this could be taken advantage of. Paul offers the Thessalonians an example of how to live, and goes on to say:

‘For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labour we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.’ (2Thess 3:7-8)

Paul’s vision of a Christian community is one that is well-ordered, with everyone contributing. Each member has their part to play. Living a Christian life is something which we do both as individuals and as a community. Hence St Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians: ‘As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good’ (2Thess 3:13). We are called to be active and make a difference, here and now, in our community. As a Church we have been striving to do this for nearly two thousand years. It remains a work in progress. 

We may encounter problems in our life of faith, and all of St Paul’s Letters to Churches address these. Christians learn to overcome difficulties together, growing in grace, in love, and in forgiveness, as a family, brothers and sisters in Christ. And this is what the Kingdom of God looks like: people such as you and me, deepening our faith, growing in the love of God and the love of each other. Living the life of Heaven here on earth, today. 

This loving fellowship is what makes the Church attractive. The world around us finds it all to easy to get wrapped up in selfishness, concerned with wealth, power, and status. Whereas Christians value love and service — of God and each other — to help build a new society where all are loved, all are valued, and all are cared for. 

On the night before He died, Our Lord and Saviour washed His disciples feet, before celebrating the Eucharist with them. He commanded us to ‘do this in remembrance of him’, so that service and self-giving love should remain at the heart of who and what we are. This is the source and summit of the Christian life. Participating in the Eucharist helps us to grow together in love, and to proclaim God’s saving truth in who and what we are, and what we do. Christ offers the world the alternative which it longs for deeply.

Let us then come to Him, to be healed by Him. Let us be nourished with His Body and Blood and strengthened to proclaim Him in word and deed, so that the world may come to believe and sing the praises of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, Duw Dad, Duw y Mab, a Duw yr Ysbryd Glân. To whom be ascribed all glory, dominion and power, now and forever. Amen