Third Sunday in Advent December 11, 2005

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 Psalm 126 or Luke 1:47-55 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28

An Old Letter — A Timeless Message

The apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is known to be the oldest book in the New Testament. Written from Corinth, possibly as early as A.D. 43, the letter is believed to be Paul’s response to the good report brought to him by Timothy (3:6). Thessalonica, where Paul and Silas had established a church (Acts 17:1-9), was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia in northern Greece and a prominent center of commerce.

Structurally, the letter reflects a Greco-Roman pattern that is common to many of Paul’s writings; e.g., introduction (salutation, prayer of thanksgiving), central section (exhortations, instructions), conclusion (benediction, greetings). Chapters 1-3 recount Paul’s work in establishing the church in Thessalonica, and chapters 4 and 5 address issues facing this newly-formed community of believers.

The letter contains an eschatological section (4:13–5:11) where Paul encourages the believers to “keep awake” and remain alert because “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (5:2, 6, NRSV) — a recurring theme throughout this season of Advent (see also 2 Peter 3:10). Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are now “children of light and children of the day” (5:5, NRSV), having accepted the gospel of Christ.

Exhortations concerning life in the Christian community and relationships with others (5:12-21) immediately follow the eschatological section — a reminder that a community of faith is called to live a new way while awaiting the parousia, or Christ’s Second Coming. And this week’s reading (5:16-24) reminds us that living “according to the will of God in Christ Jesus” (5:18, NRSV) is cause for rejoicing always (5:16) and that the God of peace will sanctify us (5:23).

The Gospel reading lifts up John, the messianic forerunner, who came “to testify to the light … which enlightens everyone” (John 1:8,9, NRSV). Like John, we are called to witness to the One who is the “true light” (John 1:9); and like the Thessalonians, we, too, are “children of the light and children of the day.” While watchfulness is our vanguard as we await Christ’s second advent, we live in community and continue to rejoice, pray, give thanks, and hold fast to what is good so that in spirit, soul, and body we may “be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:23, NRSV).

Amen! Come Lord Jesus!

This week’s Reflection was prepared by Barbara Bernstengel, who serves on the staff of the American Bible Society as Director of the Education Unit in the Nida Institute for Biblical Scholarship.