Dionysus on a Bike

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 – 6/15/2026

Paul is on a mission to the Greeks, and he is driven. Whatever else happened to Paul when he experienced the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he developed a burning passion to open the way for gentiles to enter into communion with the God of Israel, through the mediation of that same Christ he experienced. After having preached the word and ministered to the church at Thessaloniki, his travels take him to Athens. From Athens, he worries about how the new church is doing and longs to go back to minister to them again and encourage them in their fledgling faith. For some reason though, Paul cannot go back to Thessaloniki right away, so he sends his co-worker Timothy in his place to check up on them.

The important lesson here is that there is far more work to be done than one person or ministry could ever do alone—the harvest is plentiful. Because of genuine love and care we will feel attached to a community, a person, or a church to whom we’ve served and ministered. Since the work exceeds our ability and power, we have to trust others with the tasks of ministering, which ultimately means trusting God and recognizing our own limitations. The healing of others should not be limited to our own weakness and finitude, so it is important that we do not get overly protective of “our” ministry. It is important that we give service to another when we have reached the end of our time, money, or ability. This requires letting go of the idea that their well-being depends on us. We can do great good in the world, but so can others. We must allow our limitations to make room for God to use others to be sent out to do the work we wish we could do ourselves. Love for the other and faith in the promises of God demand that we do this.

Reflections of a Dionysian Lutheran, comments on the daily readings of the Revised Common Lectionary by Justin Marquis