Peace and security

In times of war and fear, politicians often try to position themselves as the ones who will restore peace and security for their constituents.

Today’s first reading (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11) puts that rhetoric in a different perspective.

When people are saying, “Peace and security,”
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.

As citizens, we need to get beyond rhetoric and shallow policies and to grapple realistically with the problems that afflict our present day and darken our future in this world.

As Christians, we need to remember that there is no true peace and no real security in this world, even as we strive to be prudent stewards within it, keeping our focus on God and his eternal light.

For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.

Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.

Those who sleep go to sleep at night,
and those who are drunk get drunk at night.

But since we are of the day, let us be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love
and the helmet that is hope for salvation.

For God did not destine us for wrath,
but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
so that whether we are awake or asleep
we may live together with him.

Therefore, encourage one another
and build one another up,
as indeed you do.