Monday 4 September 2023

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Today is Monday 4 September, in the 22nd week of Ordinary time.

Juliano Ravanello sings, Ubi Caritas: ‘Where charity and love are, God is there.’

Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est

Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor

Exsultemus et in ipso iucundemur

Timeamus et amemus Deum vivum

Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero

Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est

Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur

Ne nos mente dividamur caveamus

Cessent jurgia maligna cessent lites

Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus

Ubi caritas et amor Deus ibi est

Simul quoque cum beatis videamus

Glorianter vultum tuum Christe Deus

Gaudium quod est immensum atque probum

Saecula per infinita saeculorum

Amen

Where charity and love are, God is there.

Love of Christ has gathered us into one.

Let us rejoice in Him and be glad.

Let us fear, and let us love the living God.

And from a sincere heart let us love one.

Where charity and love are, God is there.

At the same time, therefore, are gathered into one:

Lest we be divided in mind, let us beware.

Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease.

And in the midst of us be Christ our God.

Where charity and love are, God is there.

At the same time we see that with the saints also,

Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:

The joy that is immense and good, Unto the

World without end. Amen.

Today’s reading is from the First Letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Ignatian spirituality calls us to meditate on the reality of our human frailty and vulnerability, reminding us to focus on what truly matters in life – our relationship with God and with those around us. Grief is also a reality for many. What is your response to hearing this passage today?

Paul’s community had been expecting a response from God in their lifetime, so their concern for those who have died, in a time of persecution, needed this explicit reassurance and reason to hope.

In these verses, Paul responds to a community seeking answers – what now? What next? Is this a question you have asked?

‘Therefore encourage one another with these words.’ Paul reminds them of their strength as a community of faith. Where have you experienced this encouragement within your community?

As you hear the passage again, consider what you need. What response does Paul’s assurance raise within you?

‘We will be with the Lord for ever.’ In a time of prayer rest in the Lord’s presence sharing your thoughts and feelings for the day.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.