Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 - St. Monica - mother of Saint Augustine
[2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18 and Matthew 23:27-32]For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat.
Although scripture scholars argue over the question as to whether or not St. Paul actually wrote the Second Letter to the Thessalonians, the subject matter seems clear. It concerns the way people should behave until the Second Coming of the Lord. It would appear that some in the community had taken the attitude that there was no point in trying to earn a living since Jesus was coming soon and everything earthly would vanish. The result was that the behavior became parasitical and was causing tensions within the community. We do know that St. Paul had a trade that he followed - tentmaking - and he worked to support himself even though he believed his ministry entitled him to some support from the community. In the tightly related early Christian communities, there was a system of social support which aimed at providing for widows and orphans and others who had no other way to live. This system presupposed that all other members of the community contributed to this common good. To avoid participating on the grounds of a belief that Jesus' return would happen soon was contrary to the gospel and to what St. Paul was teaching. Perhaps on some levels we Americans with our strong work ethic can identify with the problem. We are all familiar with "couch potatoes", "moochers" or "leeches" whose behavior is motivated by less than convincing reasons or else by good reasons that don't seem to apply to them! In any case, the Second Letter to the Thessalonians shows us that the problem is an old one and was addressed in almost the same words we might use: "Get a job!" AMEN
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