What thanksgiving can we render to God for you? May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all. Paul concludes the thanksgiving section of his letter to the Thessalonians by commending them to the Lord as he prays that the Lord may increase the bond of love amongst the members of the community. This was prompted by the fact that the Thessalonian community was a young one, and Paul’s physical presence to them which would have been immensely useful for their growth had not lasted long enough. Paul is optimistic about the community owing to the information he was getting concerning them. But he was also aware that a good start was itself not enough. He knew that any young faith community was bound to encounter along the way some growing pains that would test their faith. The only way of avoiding falling off the path of faith is perseverance in love (mutual charity). Paul prays that mutual love and affection may abound in the Thessalonian community. He hopes that the presence of love in the community would go a long way in covering for his limited interaction with them. It is love- and nothing else- that will bring the community together. To Paul, love (charity) is the antidote of all the ills that can affect a community and is the basic ingredient in a community’s pursuit for holiness. Those who are called to a covenantal relationship (with God and one another) must abound in love. For it is the bond of love that will keep those who are parties to a covenant from straying off the path set for them in the covenant.