Friday, November 28, 2008

1Thes 2, 5-12 We were gentle among you

(1Thes 2, 5-12) We were gentle among you
[5] Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know, or with a pretext for greed - God is witness – [6] nor did we seek praise from human beings, either from you or from others, [7] although we were able to impose our weight as apostles of Christ. Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. [8] With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us. [9] You recall, brothers, our toil and drudgery. Working night and day in order not to burden any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers. [11] As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children, [12] exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you conduct yourselves as worthy of the God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
(CCC 233) Christians are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: not in their names (Cf. Profession of faith of Pope Vigilius I (552): DS 415), for there is only one God, the almighty Father, his only Son and the Holy Spirit: the Most Holy Trinity. (CCC 858) Jesus is the Father's Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he "called to him those whom he desired;… And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach" (Mk 3:13-14). From then on, they would also be his "emissaries" (Greek apostoloi). In them, Christ continues his own mission: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you" (Jn 20:21; cf. 13:20; 17:18). The apostles' ministry is the continuation of his mission; Jesus said to the Twelve: "he who receives you receives me" (Mt 10:40; cf. Lk 10:16).

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