Monday 30 August 2021
Today is Monday the 30 August, in the 22nd week of Ordinary Time.
The King’s Singers sing Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis. ‘I have never put my hope in any other but in you’. As I begin this time of prayer today, can I speak those words to God? Can I place all my hope, all my trust, all my faith in him?
Today’s reading is from St Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Paul offers a message of hope in the face of death, a hope in contrast to grief and despair. How do you feel as you listen to his words? Your own images of what happens after death may differ from Paul’s. Notice what leads you to feel anxious, and what leads you to feel hopeful and consoled when you think of this.
At the heart of Paul’s message is everlasting union with our loving God in Jesus. This is our hope of heaven. How does this encourage you in your life? Do you need further encouragement to embrace this message of hope? Notice what feelings arise within you now. Is there something you want to share with God about how you feel?
Listening again to Paul’s reflection on death and the risen life, notice how he contrasts hope with the grief of hopelessness, despair with promise.
Jesus promised to be with us always, to the end of time. This is not just a promise for a vague future but for here and now. What response do you feel like making to that promise?
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.