14 Nov Wednesday

Order and disorder mark out the poles of the argument in the Catholic Church. Paul does the same for the Thessalonians in the second reading, using himself as the paragon of orderliness. The Greek word chosen here reflects a military backdrop as in the arrangement of troops prepared for battle, the success dependent on sustaining the order. Order leads to victory because no one breaks ranks.

For Paul he describes this order as conforming oneself to Paul who boasts that he has been conformed Christ. Secondly it includes making some positive contribution to the community; remember that Paul was a tentmaker. The gossips in the community are the disorderly ones, so minding one’s business maintains the orderliness, There’s also a hint that the more quiet person is the more orderly person. The community shares its food and work; the two pieces are connected.