It is hard to match insincerity or in eloquence Paul’s words of love for the Thessalonians. With its eschatological flavor it matches today’s passage from the gospel, in which Jesus admonishes the community not only to diligent work but to mutual love. The day and the hour of the Master’s return may be a mystery but what the Master expects of us when He returns is not.

There are some things in life which are difficult to do by yourself. Say that you are traveling alone in your car through an unfamiliar part of the country or area. The car breaks down on some deserted stretch of highway. What a lonely abandoned feeling you must have, even with the modern conveniences of cell phone and AAA, you are still at the mercy of strangers.

When at last someone comes along, even if the car cannot be immediately fixed, the voice of a helping "other" is great consolation. It is not that misery loves company; rather it is human to need support, even moral support--as St. Augustine surely did.

As I said yesterday, he was intellectually brilliant and thirsted in the depths for spiritual wisdom and truth. His mother Monica was Christian, his father a pagan who did not allow him to be baptized.

His spiritual growth process was a monumental struggle which you can read in his "Confessions." For 15 years he lived with a woman whose identity he never revealed, and with her conceived a son named Adeodatus (a gift from God). His ultimate conversion is due to several dimensions of our faith: His mother’s prayers, the preaching of St. Ambrose, who became his mentor; the awesome and inspirational liturgy and music at Milan Cathedral.

He was ultimately baptized, ordained priest and bishop, and shepherded the Diocese of Hippo in N. Africa, which is now buried under the Sahara desert.

The miraculous turnaround in Augustine’s life is an example of the return of the Master spoken of in the gospel. It does not need wait the end of time. While we are on this earth we journey to meet the Lord in his final coming. There are many hazards along the way. That is why we are called to be a support to one another through prayer, interest and action.

We cannot please God or secure our salvation without a relationship of love with all our spiritual brothers and sisters. We are to expect and receive support from others and we must likewise freely and eagerly give that support in return.