In the ancient Semitic world, and in some places still, there was a belief that the spoken word was a living thing and had its own power. Since few people could read and write, the spoken word was important.
If we write a word on paper it has a life that continues into the future. For our ancestors, spoken words were like that; once spoken they took on a life of their own. When people made promises to another, as in marriage, contracts and covenants — words stated in the present, reached forward to the future. Blessings and curses are also examples of words that once spoken, took on a reality of their own. Do you remember how Isaac tricked his father Jacob into giving him the blessing that should have gone to his older brother Esau? Even though Isaac got the blessing through trickery, Jacob could not take it back. The blessing he gave Esau was a different and lesser one (Genesis 27).
This dynamic quality of the word is a motif through both Testaments. God’s word is often described as coming to be, or coming to reality. Prophets received the word of God, which was the outreach of God’s very self. What the word says, it does, because with the word comes the active presence of God. The reality the word speaks of comes to be. For example, Isaiah said that the word is like rain and snow and it accomplishes the task for which it is sent (Isaiah 55:10 f). From the opening lines of the Bible the living and creative power of God’s word is manifested. God speaks and the work of creation begins (Genesis 1).The prophetic word in the Hebrew texts is succeeded by the gospel in the New Testament.
The opening verses from 2 Thessalonians make a lovely blessing we might pray for ourselves and others. It also reveals the author’s tenderness and care for the church in Thessalonica.
The second part of our passage touches into what was said above about the living quality of the word. I began with an overview of the word because of what Paul tells us in that part of today’s reading.
Paul taught that faith comes from hearing and hearing comes when the word is preached (Romans 10:17). What is striking in today’s reading is Paul’s prayer that the “word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified as it did among you.” He uses an athletic image for the gospel. He’s not focusing on those who will spread it. Rather, he is praying that the gospel, which is the living word of God, will quickly move throughout the world. How reassuring to us preachers and teachers to know the fruits of our work do not rely on our efforts alone!
A word about authorship: 2 Thessalonians was written during the persecution of Domitian. One reason for its writing was to encourage its hearers to persevere in faith. There is doubt that Paul was the author — a similar doubt applies to Ephesians and Colossians. In the Greco-Roman world it was not unusual to attribute a writing to another author, even a deceased one. While Paul may not have written 2 Thessalonians, claiming him as the author appeals to his authority and the tradition of his teaching. (We will continue to refer to the author as Paul.)
2 Thessalonians contains a spiritual wisdom that gives us an insight into the faith of the earliest Christians; a faith made difficult because of persecution. For the most part the church today is not undergoing the same kind of persecution. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t suffering stress from: clergy scandals, parish closings, financial crises, huge numbers of disaffections from the Church, shortages of priests and men and women religious, liturgical differences etc. We can be inspired by our forbearers in the faith and be strengthened by their example of perseverance and courage. After all, the Spirit that sustained them, is also with us.
Paul is not downcast, but instead prays that “the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified.” The prayer is about the spread of the gospel — indeed, its rapid spread. His hope is that God will enable them to do what the gospel asks. Paul expresses a confidence in prayer offered for the suffering community and also for its mission to spread the gospel.
Paul has prayed for the Thessalonians, now he asks them to pray for him. It is not a prayer for his material well-being, but for the spread of the gospel. We preachers can learn from Paul’s request for prayer for his preaching. What a humble request by this brilliant preacher, the one responsible for spreading the gospel to Gentile communities beyond Israel!
Following Paul’s example, we could pray for preachers today in the Prayer of the Faithful at our liturgy. Make sure to include both the ordained and lay preachers: priests, deacons, parish staff, leaders of scripture groups, catechists etc. Also remember in the prayer parents and those who are asked to explain their faith to others — we are preachers all! With Paul pray that “the word of the Lord may spread forward and be glorified.”