Greetings!
Thank you for continuing to journey with us through the season of Advent. You are now journeying together with members of over 60 different congregations in multiple dioceses and over 350 people in all. As we come together in reflection and prayer, we join our voices in praise as we await the joyful coming.
Christian Formation Commission |
"But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.
May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. Beloved, pray for us."
1Thessalonians 5:12-25
|
|
These are truly words to live by. -- "test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil". Saint Paul, in writing his letters to the congregations in the various cities which he visited on his journey, was trying to encourage the early Christians to "keep the faith" in every way. He exhorted the people to take care of one another, to live a godly and righteous life and to point out to those who are not following the right path, the error of their ways--for their own good. He says not to "repay evil for evil" but rejoice always and give thanks for what you have received in the name of God so that when Christ comes again, everyone will be ready to receive Him.
|
|
Prayer
Dear Lord,
"Help me to believe in beginnings, to make a beginning,
to be a beginning,
so that I may not just grow old
but grow new
each day of this wild, amazing life
you call me to live in following the path toward
our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Guerrillas of Grace, p. 86; Ted Loder
|
