Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 30, 2017 - Wednesday in the 21th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Thess 2:9-13 and Matt 23:27-32]WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2017. WEDNESDAY IN THE TWENTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 and Matthew 23:27-32] "And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly, that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is now at work in you who believe." [1 Thessalonians] The Thessalonian community was one of the earliest of St. Paul's missionary establishments. HIs two letters to them reflect the affectionate bond that he continued to maintain with them. The letters are also the earliest of the New Testament "books," and give us insight into how the earliest Christians in the Gentile world were receiving Paul's preaching about Jesus. The quotation above is theologically important for that reason. The Word of God may be expressed in many ways. St. Francis of Assisi is often quoted as saying: "Preach often. If necessary, use words." Words are necessary, and if they are used to express the Word of God, the words must be carefully chosen so that the People of God will receive the Word of God. Yes, there is more to sacrament and worship than the preaching, but it is the preaching that keeps people coming to worship and sacrament or keeps them away. There are plenty of recent surveys to demonstrate this. The role of the preacher is to help the People of God realize how the Word of God is "at work in you who believe." All I (and any other committed preacher) can do is hope we don't get in the way! AMEN
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