3rd Sunday of Advent (year B)

1Th 5:16-24

1Thessalonians 5:16 Be joyful always,

1Thessalonians 5:17 pray unceasingly,

1Tessalonians 5:18 in all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

1Thessalonians 5:19 quench not the Spirit,

"Be joyful always". The theme of joy is the spiritual climate of the Christian community. Christianity is joy, spiritual gladness, joy of the heart, serenity of the mind. 'Always' means in all circumstances. From an outward point of view, there was little for which believers in those days could rejoice. But joy is a fruit of the Spirit, not something the Christian can procure from his own resources.

The Christian is called to always be joyful. This quality of his new being is only possible on one condition: that there is such a strong faith in his heart that he thinks at all times that everything that happens, happens for a greater good for us. Whoever does not possess this faith is lost, because tribulation, without faith, does not generate hope, but disappointment, sadness, tears and every other kind of bitterness.

Gladness ripens only on the tree of faith, and he who falls from faith also falls from gladness and falls into sadness. Knowing that physical or moral evil permitted by God must generate sanctification in us, the Christian accepts it in faith and lives it in prayer.

In fact, the apostle adds: 'pray unceasingly'. In this very brief exhortation is hidden the secret of the Christian's life. Prayer must punctuate the life of the community and of individuals; a continuous attitude. It is not the little prayer done every now and then, but a regular prayer, done according to a constant rhythm. If we do this we can go even further, and that is to live in a spirit of prayer, aware of God's presence with us wherever we are.

The moment is lost that is without prayer. It is a moment entrusted only to our will, rationality, it is a moment lost because it is not done according to God's will but according to our own. Lost is that moment lived but not entrusted to God in prayer. Lost is that moment made by ourselves, but not made as a gift of God for us and for others. This is the truth of our life.

Because today we no longer pray, or we only pray for some personal interest, so much of our life is wasted, it is lost, it is not lived either for our own good or for the good of our brothers. Learning to pray is the most necessary thing for a man. Teaching how to do so is the primary work of the priest, or of those who lead the community.

"In everything give thanks" is the way to live in a joyful and prayerful atmosphere. We have the verb eucharistein ('to give thanks'). In every situation give thanks, because even in our difficulties and trials God teaches us valuable lessons. It is not easy to see the positive side of a trial, but if God is above all things, then He is sovereign even in the trial.

For thanksgiving to be made of everything, the heart must be clothed in humility. It is proper to humility to recognise what the Lord has done and is doing for us. But it is proper to prayer to raise to the Lord the hymn of thanksgiving, of blessing, of glorifying his name that is mighty on earth and in heaven.

He who does not give thanks is an idolater. He thinks that everything is from him, from his abilities, and therefore he attributes to himself what is simply and purely a gift from the Lord. An example of how one thanks the Lord, blesses Him, exalts and magnifies Him is the Virgin Mary. Her Magnificat is recited daily by the Church. It must not only be recited, but also imitated, prayed, made one's own life.

At the end of this triad of imperatives on the spiritual life, a motivation is given that encompasses all three exhortations: 'for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus towards you'. In this context, the expression 'will of God' implies a way of life that corresponds to the plan of salvation revealed in Jesus Christ. God's will is made known in Christ, and in Christ we are given the motivation and strength to do that will.

Argentino Quintavalle, author of the books

- Revelation - exegetical commentary

- The Apostle Paul and the Judaizers - Law or Gospel?

Jesus Christ true God and true Man in the Trinitarian mystery

The prophetic discourse of Jesus (Matthew 24-25)

All generations will call me blessed

(Buyable on Amazon)

288 Last modified on Thursday, 14 December 2023 20:21

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Argentino Quintavalle

Argentino Quintavalle è studioso biblico ed esperto in Protestantesimo e Giudaismo. Autore del libro “Apocalisse - commento esegetico” (disponibile su Amazon) e specializzato in catechesi per protestanti che desiderano tornare nella Chiesa Cattolica.

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And quite often we too, beaten by the trials of life, have cried out to the Lord: “Why do you remain silent and do nothing for me?”. Especially when it seems we are sinking, because love or the project in which we had laid great hopes disappears (Pope Francis)

E tante volte anche noi, assaliti dalle prove della vita, abbiamo gridato al Signore: “Perché resti in silenzio e non fai nulla per me?”. Soprattutto quando ci sembra di affondare, perché l’amore o il progetto nel quale avevamo riposto grandi speranze svanisce (Papa Francesco)

The Kingdom of God grows here on earth, in the history of humanity, by virtue of an initial sowing, that is, of a foundation, which comes from God, and of a mysterious work of God himself, which continues to cultivate the Church down the centuries. The scythe of sacrifice is also present in God's action with regard to the Kingdom: the development of the Kingdom cannot be achieved without suffering (John Paul II)

Il Regno di Dio cresce qui sulla terra, nella storia dell’umanità, in virtù di una semina iniziale, cioè di una fondazione, che viene da Dio, e di un misterioso operare di Dio stesso, che continua a coltivare la Chiesa lungo i secoli. Nell’azione di Dio in ordine al Regno è presente anche la falce del sacrificio: lo sviluppo del Regno non si realizza senza sofferenza (Giovanni Paolo II)

For those who first heard Jesus, as for us, the symbol of light evokes the desire for truth and the thirst for the fullness of knowledge which are imprinted deep within every human being. When the light fades or vanishes altogether, we no longer see things as they really are. In the heart of the night we can feel frightened and insecure, and we impatiently await the coming of the light of dawn. Dear young people, it is up to you to be the watchmen of the morning (cf. Is 21:11-12) who announce the coming of the sun who is the Risen Christ! (John Paul II)

Per quanti da principio ascoltarono Gesù, come anche per noi, il simbolo della luce evoca il desiderio di verità e la sete di giungere alla pienezza della conoscenza, impressi nell'intimo di ogni essere umano. Quando la luce va scemando o scompare del tutto, non si riesce più a distinguere la realtà circostante. Nel cuore della notte ci si può sentire intimoriti ed insicuri, e si attende allora con impazienza l'arrivo della luce dell'aurora. Cari giovani, tocca a voi essere le sentinelle del mattino (cfr Is 21, 11-12) che annunciano l'avvento del sole che è Cristo risorto! (Giovanni Paolo II)

Christ compares himself to the sower and explains that the seed is the word (cf. Mk 4: 14); those who hear it, accept it and bear fruit (cf. Mk 4: 20) take part in the Kingdom of God, that is, they live under his lordship. They remain in the world, but are no longer of the world. They bear within them a seed of eternity a principle of transformation [Pope Benedict]

Cristo si paragona al seminatore e spiega che il seme è la Parola (cfr Mc 4,14): coloro che l’ascoltano, l’accolgono e portano frutto (cfr Mc 4,20) fanno parte del Regno di Dio, cioè vivono sotto la sua signoria; rimangono nel mondo, ma non sono più del mondo; portano in sé un germe di eternità, un principio di trasformazione [Papa Benedetto]

In one of his most celebrated sermons, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux “recreates”, as it were, the scene where God and humanity wait for Mary to say “yes”. Turning to her he begs: “[…] Arise, run, open up! Arise with faith, run with your devotion, open up with your consent!” [Pope Benedict]

San Bernardo di Chiaravalle, in uno dei suoi Sermoni più celebri, quasi «rappresenta» l’attesa da parte di Dio e dell’umanità del «sì» di Maria, rivolgendosi a lei con una supplica: «[…] Alzati, corri, apri! Alzati con la fede, affrettati con la tua offerta, apri con la tua adesione!» [Papa Benedetto]

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