Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
(II
Thessalonians 1:1-5.11-12; Matthew 23:13-22)
In today’s
first reading St. Paul begins his letter by typically thanking God. Writing to the Thessalonians, he mentions how
grateful he is for their accepting the faith and living it with love for one
another.
For Paul thanksgiving
is a way of life. He sees God as the
initiator of every good thing. He knows
that griping may draw others’ attention but ultimately creates consternation
for everyone concerned. It is better, he
would say, to thank God for the goodness He has bestowed than to grumble over any
difficulties He has proportioned.
There is a
lesson here for all of us. The more that
we can thank God for the good encountered and even for the evil endured, the
closer to God we will become. Near to
Him, we will find happiness.
