For the past few months the Bible readings have been taken from the first eight books of the Old Testament, the story of Israel’s beginnings. For the next few months the readings will be taken from the epistles of St. Paul which document the beginnings of the Christian Church. The first epistle to the Thessalonians is the oldest part of the New Testament, written perhaps around the year 52AD. The letter is one of encouragement to a community that he holds dear. “We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers.” When Paul was dealing with his “problem children,” the communities which were having difficulties living the faith, he held up the Thessalonians as a model to follow.
