When we open Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, we are immediately met with a really warm image of a young community that has it seems, truly grasped the essence of the Christian life. Paul writes with a pastor’s affectionate pride, noting in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV), “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
It is fascinating to see how faith, love and hope are not presented as abstract feelings or mere intellectual agreements, but rather as deeply physical, active realities that shape the daily existence of the church.
Faith works, love labours and hope stands steadfast against the prevailing winds of the world, never retreating into comfortable isolation.
From a modern Christian (and in my case Anglo-Catholic) perspective, we understand that this active, physical manifestation of faith is exactly what the sacramental life is designed to produce within us. We do not merely think about God in the quietness of our own minds, because we belong to an international religion where grace is communicated through tangible, physical means like water, bread and wine. So, when we gather at the altar to receive the Blessed Sacrament, we are being actively and spiritually nourished so that our faith might translate into tangible works of mercy in our local neighbourhoods. A labour of love is rarely glamorous, and it often involves the rather mundane tasks of caring for the sick, sweeping the church hall or putting up with the eccentricities of our fellow parishioners yet, it is precisely in these ordinary acts of devotion that the extraordinary love of Christ is made visible to a society that so desperately needs to see it.
As we reflect on our own spiritual journey we can I think take immense encouragement from the believers in Thessalonica who managed to shine brightly despite their many challenges (Which is putting it mildly). Today in our lives are similarly called to exactly the same holy rhythm, allowing the grace we receive in the liturgy to flow out into our daily labours and transform our interactions with others.
When our alarm clock rings on a cold Monday morning and our spiritual enthusiasm feels rather thin on the ground, we can rest in the knowledge that our steadfastness is anchored in Christ alone and our modest efforts are gathered up into his perfect offering, making our shared labour of love a beautiful sacrifice of praise.
Pax
Shaun
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