(Please read this Scripture passage first, before the homily.)
We have two letters addressed to Thessalonians, one definitely by St Paul and one possibly not by him. Please do not panic at this. The letter still comes to us with full apostolic authority. It was then considered a mark of esteem to write a book and put someone else’s name on it. Nowadays, one would probably be sued over such a thing.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul seemed more relaxed and comfortable with the Thessalonians, whereas in today’s letter the author seems much more authoritarian. It is like the difference between an employee, one not in charge, who can relax among others and the boss who has the tough decisions to make.
Paul, the benevolent pastoral apostle, signed off the first letter to the Thessalonians with many words of blessing and encouragement. The author of the second letter signed off reminding the Thessalonians of the authority he had over them.
What are we to make of this? Both letters are authentic parts of the Bible even though we do not know for certain who wrote the second letter. The letters were written because of circumstances existing in the Church community at the time of the writing. It seems that the situation in the second letter involved busybodies, people meddling in others’ affairs, people causing trouble within the community or idly waiting for the imminent second coming.
In contrast, the writer described the example of Paul, his tireless work among them, his self-giving, his genuine love and concern for his people. In Paul’s time, the author reminded the Thessalonians, the people had formed community and had lived in community, sharing others burdens and concerns. The author reproached the Thessalonians in the second letter for not living up to the example of Paul and the earlier generation of Thessalonians.
Now it is my turn to come to you. I come, not to reproach you or bawl you out. I come to encourage you to continue the kind of living you have been doing, especially since the coronavirus. Like Paul in the first letter, I encourage and commend you to keep up your good work. I pray that the God of peace give you an abundance of peace. I, however, have no signature to affix to this homily.