"From Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy, to the church of Thessalonica, which is in GOD, the FATHER, and in CHRIST JESUS, the LORD.
May the peace and grace of GOD be with you.
We give thanks to GOD, at all times, for you, and remember you in prayers. We constantly recall, before GOD, our FATHER, the work of your faith, the labors of your love, and your endurance, in waiting for CHRIST JESUS our LORD.
We remember, brothers and sisters, the circumstances of your being called. The gospel we brought you was such, not only in words. Miracles, the Holy Spirit, and plenty of everything, were given to you. You, also, know how we dealt with you, for your sake." - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
(Faith, endurance, love. For us, sometimes hope [or: endurance] goes unnoticed between faith and love. For Paul it has two important meanings:
- Those who hope bear trials and persecutions with patience and perseverance. That is why Paul speaks of faith, perseverance and love. As we know from the Gospel, hope is not an easy optimism; it is the capacity to endure when faced with trials.
- The person with hope looks forward to the glorious coming of CHRIST who will judge this world and take us to the next one. HE frees us from impending trial. In those years, all believers were convinced that judgment was imminent and that they would witness CHRIST's coming.
The gospel we brought you was such not only in words. There were many signs, miracles and other manifestations in Thessalonica. Perhaps GOD increased the signs in view of the coming persecution; since very soon there would not be many with adequate formation to orient the community. In fact the Gospel cannot be proclaimed without GOD doing something to confirm it [Mark 16:17]. JESUS criticized those who came to HIM to see miracles, but HE performed miracles throughout HIS ministry. Let us not say: "I do not need miracles to believe." Human beings as we are, we will have quite a different enthusiasm if we see that GOD is beside us, doing the incredible to confirm HIS word.)
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