⇐Year A - Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost (b)⇒


A Thief in the Night
Created by DALL·E 2, 2023-09-05

My dear friends,

In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, the Apostle Paul alerts us to the importance of remaining spiritually vigilant and morally upright.

Now concerning the times and the seasons,
brothers and sisters,
you do not need to have anything written to you.
For you yourselves know very well
that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief in the night.
When they say,
"There is peace and security,"
then sudden destruction will come upon them,
as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman,
and there will be no escape!
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Paul’s metaphor of the 'thief in the night' serves as a powerful reminder of the unexpected nature of divine intervention. It is a call to maintain a state of spiritual readiness, resonating with the Buddhist concept of 'mindfulness'—remaining aware and prepared in every moment of life. This passage encourages us to live in a state of moral and spiritual alertness, not succumbing to complacency.

But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief;
for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.
So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;
for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7

The emphasis on being 'children of light' reflects a shared understanding in both Christian and Buddhist teachings that true awareness is akin to light, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and moral decay. Staying awake and sober metaphorically speaks to leading a life filled with awareness and ethical clarity, much like the Buddhist pursuit of enlightenment.

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love,
and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

The call to don the 'breastplate of faith and love' and the 'helmet of the hope of salvation' mirrors the Buddhist emphasis on the protective power of spiritual virtues. Faith, love, and hope are universal values that shield us from spiritual harm, akin to the Buddhist principles of loving-kindness (Metta) and compassionate action (Karuna).

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11

The exhortation to encourage and build up one another speaks to the core of both Christian and Buddhist communities. It's a reminder that our spiritual journey is not solitary, but one where we are called to uplift others, embodying the principles of interconnectedness and compassion found in both paths.

This passage is a profound call to spiritual vigilance, ethical living, and communal support. It echoes important themes found in both Christian and Buddhist traditions, reminding us of the universal call to lead lives of awareness, virtue, and compassion.