Scripture – 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 NRSVUE
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister living irresponsibly and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you, 8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you. 9 This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11 For we hear that some of you are living irresponsibly, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
From Rev. Heather Leffler
Like the gospel reading for this Sunday—Luke 21:5–19—this passage is one we might prefer to skip. Paul’s words, “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat,” have often been misused, but Paul was not telling the Thessalonian church to judge those who were unemployed or to abandon vulnerable neighbours. He was writing to a community in a particular moment, where some believers had stopped participating in daily life because they were convinced Jesus would return at any moment. Their withdrawal placed a burden on the wider community and weakened their common ministry. Paul responds with a moral teaching meant to draw them back into shared responsibility and faithful living.
When we read this alongside Jesus’ words in Luke, a deeper theme emerges. Jesus cautions his disciples not to be distracted by rumours of wars, political upheaval, or disasters—realities that have always marked human history. Instead, he calls them to steadfast trust: do not be terrified… I will give you words and wisdom… by your endurance you will gain your souls. Jesus is less concerned with predicting the end and far more concerned with how his followers live in the present.
Where Paul speaks of working quietly and responsibly for the good of the community, Jesus calls us to active faithfulness—not anxious waiting, but courageous participation in God’s work. Jesus would not stop with urging us to contribute our share; he invites us to be agents of compassion, justice, and care for all creation. We are here to embody Christ’s love, responding to the grace we have received by making that grace visible to others.
It is easy to slip into the temptation of separation—believing we are more faithful, more righteous, or more correct than someone else. But God does not compare us. God sees each of us as a beloved child and desires that we live full, rich lives rooted in the assurance that no matter what is happening around us, we are not alone. It is in choosing to “not grow weary in doing what is right”—in loving as we have been loved—that we most clearly feel God’s presence.
Contemplation and Conversation
What helps me stay faithful to God’s call when the world feels overwhelming?
Prayer
Loving Jesus, when we are tempted to wait passively for you
or to place ourselves above others, forgive us.
Draw us into your active, compassionate love.
Renew our courage to do what is right
and show us the gift of living our lives in you. Amen.
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