Daily Retreat 08/27/08
2008 Aug 27 Wed: Monica, mw M
2 Thes 3: 6-10. 16-18/ Ps 127(128): 1-2. 4-5/ Mt 23: 27-32
From today’s readings: “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.... Blessed are those who fear the Lord.... On the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing....”
Work
The Thessalonians were particularly focused on preparing for the Second Coming of Christ. The Lord Himself urged watchfulness in this regard, so it is certainly praiseworthy to be serious about this matter.
However, some of the Thessalonians were so preoccupied with this, that they stopped working and other activities of daily life, and were being pests in interfering with the work of others. Paul clarifies that seriousness about the Day of the Lord does not mean that we’re supposed to drop everything and sit around waiting for it to come. Rather, all of our activities should reflect a commitment to using the gift of our time wisely in the service of God.
The drudgery of everyday life can indeed weigh on us, and it’s easy to dream of God providing us with a convenient excuse to let it all go. While all preoccupations of this life do indeed need to be subordinated to preoccupations about eternal life, all the essential tasks at hand can still be done in an industrious manner which testifies to our faith that we are called to serve God and one another especially in the great and small things of everyday life.
2 Thes 3: 6-10. 16-18/ Ps 127(128): 1-2. 4-5/ Mt 23: 27-32
From today’s readings: “May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.... Blessed are those who fear the Lord.... On the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing....”
Work
The Thessalonians were particularly focused on preparing for the Second Coming of Christ. The Lord Himself urged watchfulness in this regard, so it is certainly praiseworthy to be serious about this matter.
However, some of the Thessalonians were so preoccupied with this, that they stopped working and other activities of daily life, and were being pests in interfering with the work of others. Paul clarifies that seriousness about the Day of the Lord does not mean that we’re supposed to drop everything and sit around waiting for it to come. Rather, all of our activities should reflect a commitment to using the gift of our time wisely in the service of God.
The drudgery of everyday life can indeed weigh on us, and it’s easy to dream of God providing us with a convenient excuse to let it all go. While all preoccupations of this life do indeed need to be subordinated to preoccupations about eternal life, all the essential tasks at hand can still be done in an industrious manner which testifies to our faith that we are called to serve God and one another especially in the great and small things of everyday life.
posted by FrPitstick | 8/25/2008
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