Many people whom we consider to be close to us are physically very far from us. Long
before e-mail, phone calls, texting and twitter, the Apostle Paul found ways to stay in
touch with those whom he loved.
Today’s reading, the First Letter to the Thessalonians 1:1-5, contains the earliest words
of the New Testament. Paul may have written to other churches before but this letter is
the first that we know.
Paul’s preaching in Thessalonica is usually dated as being in the year 50. A year later,
Paul wants the Christians of Thessalonica to know that he has been praying for them
and has been thanking God for all of them and has also been “constantly mindful” of
their faith, love and hope.
From our vantage point, more than nineteen and a half centuries later, we may not
appreciate the importance of these opening sentences are, as the first statements of the
faith, in writing. For instance, God is called “Father.” This is an imitation of Jesus’
manner of speaking of God, as “Father.” Addressing God as “Father” was not frequently
done, even by Jewish people. There are only 20 occasions in the Old Testament, where
God is addressed as “Father.”
We are so accustomed to speaking of Jesus as “Lord” and “Christ” (Messiah) that we
may not realize that this passage is the first witness that these names were commonly
applied to Jesus by the early Christians.
The letter is addressed to “the church of the Thessalonians who belong to God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus’ name is attached to that of the Father. He is
not only a historical figure but Paul is affirming his faith that Jesus, along with the
Father, is acting in the lives of the Christians. The joining of the Father and Jesus is a
dramatic testimony to the belief in the close relationship of Jesus with the Father.
What do we want for those whom we love? Paul desires for “grace and peace” for the
believers. “Grace” is important, as St. Thomas Aquinas affirms, because grace is the
source of all good. Grace is God’s action in our lives. Elsewhere Paul attests, “By the
grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor 15:10). “Peace,” according to Thomas, is the
settling of all our desires. This is what Paul desired for the people of Thessalonica and
this si what we should desire for those we love.
Paul keeps thanking God for the Christians of Thessalonica. Thomas reflects that Paul’s
thanksgiving is directed to God, recognizing that all the good which the Christians have
if from God, as the Letter of James states: “Every good giving and perfect gift is from
above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (Js 1:17).
Thomas points out that Paul’s thanksgiving is sincere because it is continual, and so
Paul gives thanks “always,” as he does in the Letter to the Romans, “I remember you

constantly” (Rom 1:9).Paul’s thanksgiving is also universal, “We keep thanking God for
all of you.”
In this letter, Paul joins faith, hope and charity together, as he does in the First Letter to
the Corinthians, “Faith, hope and love remain, these three” (1 Cor 13:13). Thomas
notices that Paul mentions faith first because it is the basis of receiving what is hoped
for: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for…” (Heb 11:1).
Thomas insists, however, that faith alone is not enough: “This is not enough, unless one
has works and effort.” For this reason, Paul adds “you are proving your faith and
laboring in love,” as the Letter of James affirms: “faith without works is dead” (Js 2:26).
Their labor for Christ would be of little value if it were not continuous, as Jesus spoke of
“those who believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial” (Lk 8:13).
Thomas notices that Paul remembers their faith expressed in these works and efforts.
Paul recalls their love, as he will later in the same letter: “On the subject of mutual
charity you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves have been taught
by God to love one another” (1 Thess 4:9).
Paul affirms that the Thessalonians have been constant in their hope, as he also tells
the Romans, “Rejoice in hope” (Rom 12:12). Thomas notices that Paul speaks of their
“hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thomas thinks this can be understood as either their
hope in Christ or the hope that Christ gives them. St. Peter declares that God “gave us
new birth in a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pt
1:3).
Paul addresses the believers as “beloved of God.” Thomas points out that God loves all
those to whom He has given nature. This love, however, is especially to those to whom
He calls to eternal life.
Paul states that they are “chosen.” Thomas explains that Paul knows that they are
God’s elect, not because they have merited it but because “You have been chosen by
God gratuitously.” According to Thomas, Paul experienced this when he preached to
them, “God gave them the grace of fruitfully hearing His word preached, or God gave
Paul the grace of abundantly preaching to them.”
Paul reminds them that his preaching was not with words but with “power,” similarly to
his words to the Corinthians: “My message my proclamation were not with persuasive
wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power (1 Cor 2:4); “For the kingdom of
God is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Cor 4:20).
Thomas asserts that the authentication of Paul’s preaching was with “the power of
signs.” Thomas recalls various passages of the New Testament. Mark states: “…the
Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs” (Mk
16:20). The Acts of the Apostles declares: “While Peter was still speaking these things,
the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word” (Acts 10:44). The Letter to

the Hebrews affirms, “God added His testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of
power and distribution of the gifts of the holy Spirit according to His will” (Heb 2:4).
Paul adds that his preaching was carried out “in the holy Spirit.” Thomas recalls the
words of the Gospel: “It will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking
through you” (Mt 10:20).
Denis Vincent Wiseman, O.P.