Wednesday 30 August 2023

Today is Wednesday the 30th of August, in the 21st week of Ordinary time.

Jon Guerra sings, ‘Thank You, Lord’. As you listen, can you make these words your own?

Thank you, Lord
For this day
For this morning
For this grace
What am I?
I am yours
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
This is life
This is love
To be still and know you
All that's lost will be gained
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
Daily bread
Daily breath
Ordinary
Faithfulness
Christ in me
More and more
Let it be
Thank you, Lord
This is life
This is love
To be still and know you
All that's lost will be gained
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
With all that is within me
I want to know your ways
The light of my salvation will never fade
The riches of your kindness have always been my strength
And Christ is with me always through every age
And Christ is with me always through every age
This is life
This is love
To be still and know you
All that's lost will be gained
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

Today’s reading is from the first letter to the Thessalonians.


1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.

We catch glimpses into St Paul’s character in today’s passage: Paul acting “as a father to his children”, the young church in Thessalonica, urging and encouraging. Paul who is thankful, acknowledging the fruit of his labour for the gospel. Is that someone whom you could respect, someone you might want to listen to?

Working “night and day”. Perhaps you have experience of that exhausting existence. Perhaps you’re a parent working night and day for your family. Or you might be working for little or no gain. Perhaps you’re longing for work. How do you feel about the work that you do? Remembering Jesus Himself knew the reality of work, on many levels.


As you hear the passage again, notice what stays with you.


As this time of reflection draws to a close, talk with the Lord, as one friend to another, as one work colleague to another, as one parent to another. Tell the Lord whatever is on your heart.


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.