22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (LABOR DAY, USA)

Thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

The Thessalonians were struggling. They were worried about their deceased loved ones—what would become of them? It was especially troubling because they expected Jesus to return during their lifetimes. Paul hastens to reassure them: they haven’t seen the last of those who have died in faith. These brothers and sisters in the Lord haven’t been plunged into oblivion. It’s more like they’ve “fallen asleep” to await the day of Christ’s return, when they will all be united in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Paul gives the Thessalonians, and us, not only hope for our loved ones, but also meaning and purpose for our lives here and now. Because the truth is that life after death is no more and no less than always being with the Lord.

Always. Both now and forever. We don’t have to wait for eternal life to start. This aspect of heaven has already begun! Our Lord has come to be with us and in us, beginning at the moment of our baptism and stretching into eternity. Instead of imagining some vague, distant, heavenly future, we can anchor our hope in our present relationship with Jesus. He has gone before us into his eternal kingdom, but he also reaches back to make sure that we are firmly connected to him for our entire journey heavenward.

What a comfort! Every day we can enjoy the presence of Jesus—and not just as a rehearsal for heaven; it’s our present reality. Of course, we can experience “always being with the Lord” in church and during our times of personal prayer. But that’s not all. We can be with him wherever we are, at every moment of every day. We can glance his way at any point to recall how much he cares about us, to seek his direction for the next task or encounter, or to share with him what we are thinking and wondering.

Because Jesus is our constant companion, we can have great confidence about our own future—and about those who have gone before us in faith.

“Jesus, the desire of my heart is to be with you, now and forever.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 11-13
Luke 4:16-30