Share the good news with others

October 27, 2002 -- 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

	Fr. Richard Ver Bust

We have heroes and models in faith whom we praise and seek to imitate. These people are often called saints. They may be officially canonized or simply people whom we admire. Their faith is the key to their life and all their actions are motivated or influenced by their faith. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, emphasized this in today's Gospel readings. Imitating Christ is what we easily can understand and try to do. Imitating his followers is also important. This is especially true when we can actually see them in the flesh.

Paul was an imitator of the Lord, and as the Thessalonians sought to imitate both the Lord and him, they, in turn, had become examples for others. At times this idea may seem a little presumptuous or even arrogant, but in reality this is how church communities grow. If we fail to live what we believe, then we become what Paul later will call a "noisy gong" or "clanging bell." We fail to remember Christ's words, those that say, "Lord, Lord, will not enter the kingdom but those who do the will of the Father."

Paul remembered that members of the Thessalonian Church had suffered much for their faith. Yet they also lived a life filled with joy, a gift of the Spirit. This gift is one which enables the person to live in the presence of God even now. It emphasizes the fact that what would seem to be a gift in heaven alone is already possessed by those whom Christ has redeemed. The proclamation of the good news is open to those who are willing to accept the message.

Paul then turned to a credal statement which emphasized what Jesus had done and how it touched people's lives. This truth incorporates the belief of the early church on the salvific act of Christ's death and resurrection. Paul teaches that those who turn to Christ, serve him, and thus, await his return to earth, know how it changed their lives. Paul emphasizes this when he recounts how "God has raised his Son Jesus from death and how in turn rescues us from the God's anger that is coming."

This picture of the final coming is not one of doom. It is part of the message that Paul preached in these first days. He and other Christians believed that Christ's return was immanent. He will take up that idea further in the rest of this letter and also in the Second Letter to the Thessalonians. People saw this as a sign of hope from danger and oppression.

The immanence of Christ's return is not foremost in our minds today. Even if the themes at the end of the church year seem to suggest it, we live in expectation of a long future. Yet what we do and how we live still is important for that future. Each of us still face the prospect of our own death. Each of us knows that no matter how much greater life expectancy might be extended we know that death comes to each person.

So what do we do? We become messengers of good news to others. Sr. Dianne Bergant in her book Preaching the New Lectionary points to the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi in which he exhorted his followers to preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words. We preach more loudly by what we do than anything we say. We must share the gift we have received and call others to Christ.

(Fr. Ver Bust holds the title of professor emeritus in religious studies at St. Norbert College, De Pere.)