In today's passage, Paul gives the earliest written teaching about the resurrection of Jesus.
Some of the Thessalonians were worried about community members who had already died. They expected the second coming of Christ very soon, and were concerned that those who had died would miss out on meeting the risen Christ in glory.
When someone died, you think deep, deep thoughts.
Everyone does.
And one of those thoughts is: what happens when you die? Where do you go after death?
Stop and think about how large the universe is. Its size staggers the mind. Well, how do you go beyond this massive universe?
You may not know the answer to these question, but you do know this: when you do, you go to the Lord.
And you know that you will be with him forever.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw