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1 Thessalonians 2: 1-8
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
that our reception among you was not without effect.
Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,
as you know, in Philippi,
we drew courage through our God
to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.
Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,
nor did it work through deception.
But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,
that is how we speak,
not as trying to please men,
but rather God, who judges our hearts.
Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,
or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–
nor did we seek praise from men,
either from you or from others,
although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.
Rather, we were gentle among you,
as a nursing mother cares for her children.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you
not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,
so dearly beloved had you become to us.
The Word of the Lord.
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Some of us know what it’s like to have our name slandered, or a false charge presented against us. It’s painful not only because it questions our reputation, but also because it can undo the impact of our work.
Such is the case for Saint Paul in our first reading.
His First Letter to the Thessalonians is the oldest book or letter in the New Testament, pre-dating the Gospels. His cause for writing to these early Christians was two-fold.
First and foremost, Paul had to answer the question of death. These early Christians didn’t meet Jesus, but they believed Paul’s preaching, that they, too, could enter the kingdom of God if they were faithful.
Still, they wanted to know, “Can we still enter God’s kingdom if we die before Jesus returns?” The answer was a resounding, “Yes.”
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But, secondly, Paul must clear his name.
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Beneath his words of encouragement and teaching, Paul laments the suffering he endured while preaching the Gospel.
People resistant to the Gospel message threw multiple accusations at him, including everything from being a criminal on the run, to being delusional, impure, a liar, and a thief seeking to profit from his labors.
But he understood that people resistant to change – or to the Gospel message – often turn to lies to discredit what they dislike.
“We grew courage through our God to speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle,” he says. “But we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel.”
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Thankfully, Paul never gave up.
In spite of the troubles he faced – from slander to physical abuse – he ran the race to the finish and kept the faith. In so doing, he spread the Gospel with great success.
Like Paul, may nothing stop us from preaching and living the Truth. Jesus Christ has loved us and given himself for us.
So, how might we share this truth with others today?
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Image credits: (1) Medium (2) Saint Paul Delivering the Aeropagus Sermon, Raphael (3) Redbubble