Wednesday of 21st Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Idleness is against our Christian calling

Reading: 2 Thess. 3:6–10,16–18

When St Paul preached the good news of Jesus’ second coming to the Thessalonians, the intensity and conviction with which he proclaimed the message, as well as the interpretations given to it by his disciples, elicited some unexpected and undesirable reactions among his hearers. Two among them were widespread fear among Christians and the resolve not to work again since the 2nd coming was judged to be imminent and would come with disaster that will wipe away everything on earth.

With the decision to stop further works, many Thessalonians became idle, folded their arms, and embarked only on prayers every day in preparation for the last day. In today’s first reading, St Paul wrote to these Thessalonians urging them to go back to their daily work while at the same time practicing their faith until the Lord comes back.

Dear friends, lying down in the church from morning till night, flying from one adoration centre or ministry to another from Monday till Sunday for prophecies of divine breakthroughs, prosperity and knowledge of the exact date of the end-time, and neglecting to commit ourselves to good services/works for our material wellbeing will be detrimental to both our spiritual and physical natures.

Waiting for manna from above in the name of miracles of material prosperity without making personal efforts to use the strength and talents given to us by God to provide our daily manna or improve our material world is against our Christian calling. St Paul warned that he who refuses to work should not eat.

We should remember that even monks and nuns who have committed themselves to contemplative life also engage in agricultural works to feed themselves and to share with the needy around them. Most of them produce the bread and wine we use at Mass and other sacramentals and religious items for use in the Church. They do not simply fold their hands morning and night in prayers, waiting for heaven to provide their material needs.

As we run from one prayer ministry or adoration centre to another, let us not forget to make personal efforts in our businesses or to set up one, or to acquire a skill; let us not neglect the works of our hands, because grace builds on nature.

May your Wednesday be fruitful. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima