Tuesday of week 22 in Ordinary Time
First reading – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11
“So, give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already”. The Apostle is preparing the community to associate the faith and future. The future as of the Day of the Lord. There are lots of uncertainties around the Day of the Lord, especially about the time and how it will be. These uncertainties are compared to darkness. We can be in darkness regarding this. But St. Paul is admonishing us that we must not be afraid of darkness. Because, “but it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober”. This light is kindled and flamed by our mutual encouragement. Let’s reflect: Am I encouraging others enough so that there is always light in our life?