But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you

 

 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

 

- Luke 12:22-31 

 

Yesterday we read that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  So He said to them, "When you pray, say: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.  

And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

  

  Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?"  My study Bible advises here that Jesus is warning against anxiety, not against thoughtful planning.  It notes that our physical well-being is directly dependent on God, and only indirectly on food, drink, and clothing.  Anxiety over earthly things, it adds, demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.

 

"For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things."  Because the Gentiles (the nations of the world) served pagan idols, my study Bible says, they were consumed by dependence upon earthly things.  Those who follow God, it notes, can be freed from this dependence. 

 

 "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."  My study Bible comments that the kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' teaching.  As we are called to be freed from anxiety regarding earthly things, Jesus teaches us to look to heaven, secure in the faith that God will provide needed earthly blessings. 

 

 Why are we completely dependent upon God?  What is Jesus' purpose in teaching us to be so?  In the first place, opening up to the reality and presence of this Kingdom is a way of entering into an identity.  In the ancient world, identity was formed not by theories of racial lineage or heritage in that sense, but by the sense of the "code" one belonged to.  The ethos, if you will, of Athens made one an Athenian.  The law of Rome made one a Roman, hence St. Paul, a Jew and a Roman citizen was not crucified, and he was entitled to demand a hearing before Caesar.  Law of Moses made one a Jew, and the Old Testament Scriptures are filled with foreigners who became a part of the people of Israel (the story, for example, of Ruth and Naomi comes to mind).  In St. Matthew's Gospel, these teachings we find in today's reading come just prior to the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus gives us the Nomos, or Law, so to speak of the kingdom of God.  In the context of St. Luke's Gospel, Jesus is addressing His disciples, and will heavily emphasize courage, faith, and confidence in the missions they are about to undertake, preparing them for their future in establishing the Church.  Jesus' gospel is precisely that, a "nomos" or body of law that governs the kingdom of God.  We, as faithful, with the disciples, enter into and bear that Kingdom into the world, just as they are sent out as apostles to bear that Kingdom -- the gospel message -- into the world.  Jesus is telling us to bravely and courageously do so, relying on God in faith, and placing our values, our code we live by, into the proper order.  We seek the kingdom of God first, and then to that all things are added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

 

 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  

 

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'   For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  

 

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

 

- Matthew 6:25-34 

 

We are currently reading through the Sermon on the Mount.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."

 

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?"  Here my study Bible comments that what Jesus is warning against is anxiety.  This is not a critique of thoughtful planning.  It notes that our physical well-being is directly dependent upon God, and only indirectly on food, drink, and clothing.  To be over-anxious over earthly things expresses a lack of faith in God's care. 

 

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all  his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'   For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."   My study Bible notes that because the Gentiles served pagan idols, they remained consumed by dependence on earthly things.  Those who follow God can be freed from this dependence.

 

 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  The kingdom of God is the central theme of Christ's teaching, the gospel message -- and God's righteousness is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount.  Christ calls us to be free from anxiety about earthly things, and directs us to look to heaven.  My study Bible comments that we can do so in the security that God will provide needed earthly blessings.

So we seek first the kingdom of God.  But how does this work in a modern and very secularized world, in which public interaction with faith is no longer commonly found in day-to-day life?  This is an important question, because it becomes a consideration of how we, as faithful, structure our days.  With a focus on the kingdom of God, we "hand over" daily life to God and place it in God's hands.  What this translates into is a dependence upon God for how we seek to live our lives, the choices we make, and especially the interaction that we have with others.  What is it that supports our own way of life in seeking the righteousness of God that my study Bible says is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount?  In other words, if we put the kingdom of God first -- that is, Christ's gospel of the Kingdom -- then what we seek to do in our daily lives is live that Kingdom's life even in this world.  Therefore we don't place first earthly considerations of how we are going to get things:  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'   For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."   Jesus' teaching is clear that the One upon whom we're to depend knows that we have need of all of these earthly, material things, so our dependence upon God does preclude having the things we need.  Jesus rightly points out the beauty of the created world, saying that "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these," and that it is God who so beautifully clothes even the simplest elements of creation.  So the consideration here is for worry and anxiety, perhaps the two greatest preoccupations that drive the modern world.  I have repeatedly read statistics that teach us that the most commonly prescribed drugs world-wide are anti-anxiety medications, and it's no wonder.  With a material focus that discounts the importance of a sense of God's reality permeating this world, a sense both of scarcity and competition drives priorities.  Our social media focus gives us another dimension of life which is permeated by this type of unhealthy competition:   what is ostensibly a way to be connected to others becomes yet another form of curated appearance meant to give an impression of status or success.  Not too many people are going to share their perceived "failures," and even fewer are interested to see them or to provide the kind of fellowship necessary for a supportive community.  When our drive is focused on this sort of competition within our communities, or possibly even to impress family members, where do we find the kind of community that Christ teaches us about?  When we ourselves make this commitment to live the gospel of the kingdom of God, then we find that we take it upon ourselves to live that community, to create it, to be it.  It is akin to the teaching of the parable of the Good Samaritan.  Who was the man's neighbor?  It was the one who took it upon himself to be a neighbor.  This might seem like a tall order, but what Jesus is talking about is not creating the perfect system of community in the world.  He's speaking about belonging to and being a part of the kingdom of God, even as we live in the world, and that Kingdom is much greater than any one of us, or even any community of us.   That means being a part of a loving embrace that can find us anywhere, and no matter what our circumstances -- and Jesus is asking us to start there for where we truly dwell and find our dependence in life.  We're not dependent upon accumulation in the sense that God knows what our needs are, and we will find God's way for us through all circumstances.  To be freed from the kinds of worry and anxiety that permeate our lives would indeed be a blessing. 

 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble

 

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they either toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

 

- Matthew 6:25–34 

 

We have been currently reading through the Sermon on the Mount.  In Saturday's reading, Jesus taught, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon." 

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"   My study Bible comments that Jesus is warning against anxiety here, and not against thoughtful planning.  Our physical well-being is directly dependent on God, it says, and only indirectly on food, drink, and clothing.  Anxiety over earthly things can be a demonstration of a lack of faith in God's care.  

"So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they either toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"  Again, Jesus is putting faith in God first over anxiety over worldly things.  That is, we come to depend first upon God.  His warnings, as my study Bible put it, is against anxiety, as opposed to thoughtful planning.  

"Therefore, do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  As the Gentiles served pagan idols, my study Bible explains, they remained consumed by dependence upon earthly things.  Those who follow God can be freed from this dependence.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  Here is the central theme of Christ's teaching and the gospel message:  the kingdom of God, and God's righteousness is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount.  My study Bible comments that Christ calls us to be free from anxiety about earthly things, and directs us to look to heaven, secure in the faith that God will provide needed earthly blessings.  

So what does it mean to put God's kingdom first in our lives?  To seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness?  First of all, it is a way to set things in proper order in our lives, to put things in their right perspective.  This is not simply because God is Creator, but because God has the way for us to put in proper order and relationship that things in our lives -- which includes the right relationship to earthly things, material goods.  In Saturday's reading, Jesus taught  that we cannot serve God and mammon.  And it is clear that if we don't put things in proper order (that is, if we do not put the kingdom of God and God's righteousness first), we will wind up making an idol of material, earthly things.  When we are filled with excess anxiety over the things we might possess and use, then we dwell on them constantly.  We do not seek God's direction for how to live our lives, but wind up obsessing over things that really don't need to consume that much attention, and we take away from our faith.  We engage in practices that steal our own ability to live prayerful lives, to dwell in that Kingdom, so to speak.  This is not a teaching about escaping from material responsibility, or a two-tiered life divided into the spiritual and the material.  It is, instead, a teaching in which we're given the right recipe for wholeness, for right-relatedness to God and to the world, to put things in order, instead of living lives which are disordered and out of balance.  A modern vision that sees life as purely material, and focuses so heavily on what we wear, what we look like, what modern things we have, what our houses look like, isn't conducive to a focus first on the Kingdom and God's righteousness.  Neither is it a focus that leads to good judgment or mercy, as so much finally becomes measured by this material yardstick of "success."  This is a disordered way to look at life, upside down, one in which suffering even for one's faith, or for love, is simply seen as loss without meaning.  And that is truly a disordered worldview, because in the end it will rob everything of meaning.  Suffering is a part of life and of this world, it is the root of the very word for evil or "the evil one" in Greek (Matthew 6:13).  That word is πονηρός/poneros, the root of which means pain, and in its broader meaning includes suffering, trouble, and laborious toil.   But if it is for our faith we suffer, for the righteousness of God and the gospel of the Kingdom, then suddenly suffering takes on meaning, because we put real meaning first in our lives -- and this diffuses into everything, even the sacrifices we make for it.  It is the "good fight" (1 Timothy 1:18, 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7), the struggle for love and meaning, which is not blind to the darkness of the world but bears light into it.  A purely material yardstick leaves us with only winners and losers, anxiety and depression, a world filled with meaningless suffering.  Christ will transform and transfigure that world through the Cross, and we are given this righteousness as a way that leads us through life as more than just losers when we suffer, and as those with the opportunity to transfigure even worldly wealth into compassion when we win.  Now that is a great proposition, the good news indeed.

 

 

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

 

Lilies of the field, ©Author's collection

 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."

 

- Luke 12:22-31 

 

Yesterday we read that, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  So He said to them, "When you pray, say:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."  And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

 

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?"  My study bible says that Jesus is warning against anxiety here, and not against thoughtful planning.  It notes that our physical well-being is directly dependent upon God, and only indirectly on food and clothing.  Anxiety over earthly things may express a lack of faith in God's care.  

 

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."  My study bible says that because the Gentiles -- the nations of the world -- served pagan idols, they remained consumed by dependence on earthly things.  But those who follow God, putting as priority faith and seeking the kingdom of God, can be freed from this dependence.

I love the imagery in this text.  Jesus shows us the ravens, who are highly intelligent birds, but do not sow nor reap, and have neither storehouse nor barn.  But Jesus tells us that God feeds them.  The next example Jesus uses is our own height.  Through worry and anxiety, can we grow taller?  A cubit was approximately a foot and a half -- and no, we haven't really figured out how to achieve that (which Jesus calls "the least").  So anxiety for the rest will achieve us nothing.  Then Jesus chooses the example of the lilies of the field.  The permanent photograph at the top of my blog is meant to represent these, taken of a type of lily species which spreads itself all over certain areas.  They don't toil or spin -- allusions to the making of cloth.  But still, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these beautiful, stunningly colored lilies.  Jesus compares the value of human beings to this "grass" of the field -- which lasts for so short a time, and asks us to consider how much more God will clothe us.  I have written recently in a commentary on another passage (see Monday's reading) on Jesus' own apparent conduct of His ministry, and His singular focus on the particular things that were essential to Him.  In that reading, Jesus asked the disciples who the crowds thought He was.  Of course, there were all kinds of answers, and we note that in the Gospels, the crowds are almost always wrong.  But Jesus does not spend His time worrying about what the crowds think; He is, instead, seeking out those of true faith, who are capable of understanding and becoming disciples.  Just consider what was at stake, and yet, He does not spend His time on the details of what everybody is going to think.  In today's reading, Jesus gives explicit advice to His disciples to also share His own focus on the things that God calls us to, and to leave the rest in the hands of God and to expand their faith.  By pointing out the birds and the beauty of the natural world, He does not mean that we are to do absolutely nothing in our lives, as my study bible points out.  But He is telling us about priorities and our focus in life.  He is telling us about the great importance of faith as antidote to anxiety.  He is especially telling us to focus our efforts on what will be truly rewarding for us.  If we expend all our anxiety and worry (and time and energy) on things that really aren't of much consequence, then what have we done with the potentials that God gives us as human beings -- potentials especially valuable and powerful in comparison with the birds and the wildflowers?  If we are really going to be His disciples, and follow His tremendous example, we should focus on how we live our lives as we are called by Christ, and on doing the will of the Father in this world (see yesterday's reading, above, and the Lord's Prayer).  While Christ had a tremendous mission upon which a universe relies, we each have our own crosses to bear -- and our focus needs to be on what is essential in our lives.  In a world that seems to be developing increasingly precarious problems for us to worry about, it seems that growing problems of anxiety are in deep need of correction beyond prescription drugs and other therapies -- and this is where Christ's faith and focus comes in.  We need to get our priorities in line, and put things in proper focus.  So much emphasis on social media contributes to the skewing of priorities and directly impacts the anxieties which Jesus mentions.  All the focus on appearance and wealth are evident on social media.  Used for political leveraging and encouraging people to keep up with the latest slogans and concerns also takes us outside of a faith focus, and one aligned with those crowds who always simply follow the crowd!   It is perhaps more necessary than ever to cultivate our own discipline in focusing on what is truly important and essential in life, and also taking time out for prayer and alignment with Our Father in heaven and how we seek to bear God's kingdom into the world.  Too much focus on every detail we cannot control isn't healthy, and is not what Jesus prescribed.  Nor is it what He did in His ministry.  When asked a question that alluded to nationalist politics, He taught, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Luke 20:25).  Let us remember which takes top priority, and follow Christ in His discipline that He taught us, for our health, wholeness, and sanity.  Cultivating our faith in today's world is perhaps a higher priority and greater necessity than ever.

But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you

 

 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  Then He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your east; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which if you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink. nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

 

- Luke 12:13–31 

 

Yesterday we read that, as Jesus spoke to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.  In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.  And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!  Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.   Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.  Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  Then He spoke a parable to them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your east; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  My study bible explains that it was a custom for respected rabbis to arbitrate personal disputes.  However, it says, a dispute over inheritance is detrimental to salvation.  Notice how unfitting the question from the crowd is, coming directly after Jesus' words in yesterday's reading (above).   So, in this particular setting, it is considered a form of idolatrous greed (Colossians 3:5), unfitting for those who know God.  Jesus puts the full reliance on material goods into perspective when in the parable God asks, "Whose will those things be which you have provided?"    St. John Chrysostom writes that the only barns we need we already have:  "the stomachs of the poor."  St. Basil the Great taught that the bread in our cupboard belongs to the hungry man; the coat that hangs unused belongs to the one who needs it.  The shoes which rot in our closet belong to the one without shoes, and the money we hoard belongs to the poor.  St. Ambrose says, "The things which we cannot take with us are not ours.  Only virtue will be our companion when we die."  My study bible adds that even when Joseph stored up grain in Egypt (Genesis 41), it was for the benefit of the whole nation.   It says that these teachings apply to parishes as well as to each person.  Notice again, the context into which Jesus' words apply our attitude toward wealth:  it is a fool who "lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."  

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which if you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink. nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."   My study bible says that Jesus is warning against anxiety, not against thoughtful planning.  Our physical well-being is directly dependent on God, and only indirectly on food, drink, and clothing.   It adds that anxiety over earthly things demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.  

In many different dimensions Jesus gives us greater expressions for our faith, and by contrast, the lack of it.  Here, Jesus applies the understanding of faith in God to material possessions.  He does not say that we can live on air, or simply drink water, or have no need for material things.  On the contrary, He assures us, "For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things."  Our Father knows that we have need of these things.  Our faith is not one that separates life into the material and the spiritual, focusing on only one.  Rather, it is just the opposite:  life as lived with a foot only on one side or another is false.  We are to live in this world, understanding that there are material things of which we have need, but only in a commingled understanding of the dedication of all things to the purposes of God.  Our lives are to be infused with all of life -- in this world as fully human, but also of the kingdom of God as fully faithful follows in communion with Christ and in participation in His life and the grace He offers us, in all aspects in which that can manifest.  There is nothing left out, no either/or choice here.  Rather -- the choice is for a fullness of life.  It makes sense to think that, since all things come from God in the first place, since life itself is a gift of God, we place our lives in God's hands, and therefore whatever we have, or make, or do in our lives is in the service of salvation.  This does not mean that we are to starve and it does not mean we punish ourselves.  Rather, we seek God's purposes for what we have.  The treasure in heaven, without which earthly treasures are rather empty and meaningless, is the capacity to use our worldly gifts for God's purposes:  to put our worldly goods to use for our faith.  If the two great commandments that Jesus gives us are to love God with all our heart and strength and soul and mind, and to love neighbor as oneself, then out of that great love for God so we also consider our lives as lived in this world in nurturing and helping those in need.  We become more fully "like God" when we also are generous and abundant with what we have, our hearts expand with the knowledge of what truly great gifts we have when we have the capacity to share them with others in need.  There is truly nothing more truly wealth-generating than the understanding that one has the capacity to enrich others' lives.  It makes what we have that much more valuable, and gives us a consciousness of our own wealth of resources.  It almost doesn't matter what the amount is (and this is especially true when we follow Jesus' teaching about the widow who gave two small coins to the treasury of the temple, Luke 21:1-4).  And it doesn't just apply to material wealth.  We have other resources we spread to help the world:  our time, our skills, our compassion or empathy, our ability to communicate a needed message, our support, our intelligence, our food, our prayers, and a host of other things we don't necessarily think of as wealth.  Anyone in the world, even the poorest among us, have gifts to share and give to others.  All of these, in service to our faith and through discernment within our love for God and seeking God's guidance, can be "spent" in such a way that we accumulate treasures in heaven, which make all the things we think we have just that much richer and abundant.  The greatest key to understanding how this works is Jesus' final statement to us in today's reading:  "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."  All we really have to do is to seek that kingdom in the ways that we're taught, in the ways that grace leads us, in the faith it takes to pray and seek a deeper communion with God -- and "all these things shall be added unto you."  It is all about putting our lives as firmly, deeply, blessedly, and persistently in God's hands, and resting in that place of faith.  The abundance we have might surprise anybody.  Let us not take even the tiniest gift we have for granted -- for its use in faith brings an abundance of blessing.

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

- Matthew 6:25-34

We are currently reading through the Sermon on the Mount.  On Saturday, we read that Jesus taught: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."

 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'"  What Jesus says here notably follows the admonition that one cannot serve God and mammon (in yesterday's reading, above).  He begins to speak about the material aspects of life, a focus on anxiety that is more than simply thoughtful planning.  Life is more than food and body more than clothing.   My study bible says that our physical well-being is directly dependent on God, and only indirectly on food, drink, and clothing.  Moreover, excessive anxiety over these things demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.  It's important to put this into the perspective of His preaching about what we worship, what we put first.  He is speaking of a kind of worry in which these are the things which concern and consume us most, more than the greater blessing of having God as our Father.

"For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  My study bible explains that because the Gentiles served pagan idols, they remained consumed by dependence on earthly things.  Those who follow God can be freed from this total dependence, as we can trust that our heavenly Father knows that we need all these things.  Jesus is not negating the need; He is rather asking us to keep in mind the love of God for us, and God's awareness of all our needs.  It is this mindfulness on our part that creates a holistic balance in our lives.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  My study bible points out that the kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' teaching, and that God's righteousness is the true focus of the Sermon on the Mount.  His primary admonition is that we seek first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness, and that all the things we need will be added to this.  Therefore, this is our primary focus as His followers.  My study bible says that, calling us to be free from anxiety about earthly things, Jesus directs us to look to heaven, secure in the faith that God will provide needed earthly blessings.   That sufficient for the day is its own trouble is one of the wisest sayings that experience will teach us.  We do not need to drum up more troubles by needless anxiety!  Tomorrow will bring its own set of worries; there is no need to think up more.  Today -- and the things which present themselves immediately before us -- is enough for today.

In the central photo at the top of my blog, one will find one of the most beautiful (to my mind) flowering plants that grow quite commonly in the region where I live.  These are crocosmia lilies.  They grow so easily and abundantly that some consider them an invasive species.  Their beauty and color remind me of Christ's "glory" of the lilies of the field, as indeed these display in their ruddy gold brilliance.  Somehow by accident, my camera at the time of the photo captured the white of the sun's rays shining down on them and nurturing their beauty, highly appropriate for our passage today.  These rays are likened to God's mercy -- the energies of God that truly sustain life for us all, including the great beauty of the flowers that remind us of resurrection, especially the bulbs that rest in the ground to re-bloom each year.  The beauty of their colors, nurtured in the sunlight, give us delight through their glory.  And so it is that we are free to enjoy the beauty of the God-given world, as that very beauty also nourishes us and provides us with something we need.  When we observe the beauties of the created world, we may pause to consider how deep our need for beauty is, for beauty -- something hard to define as a material necessity for bodily survival -- is indeed something that nurtures the soul.  It is a reminder of God's love for us and God's care, for we may ask why it is that so much of created nature bursts with such beauty as if to give us an uplifting gift, a break from toil, a time of enjoyment or delight.  Jesus calls lilies such as these the "grass of the field," reminding us also of their simplicity == and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed such as these. Indeed it remains difficult to replicate through man-made objects the brilliance and dimensional richness of these colors in the sunlight.  In the most ancient burial sites discovered by archaeologists, we find evidence of such types of flowers buried with the ancient dead -- truly a teaching of our need for beauty and the reflective promise of resurrection of life our earliest ancestors intuitively grasped for.  Our own need for beauty teaches us about our dependence upon God for the finer things in life, the things that nourish the soul, give us the most heart, and the true faith in life's very goodness that sustains us and makes life more than toil.  Worry and anxiety, Jesus seems to teach us, take us away from that truth of life, and even from who we truly are as the children of a loving Father in heaven.  Excessive worry keeps us stuck in the "what ifs" == all those things that too often distract us from what is right in front of us and what is important, taking away our spirit for the real work we need, even the work of faith, of prayer, and of trust.   We need to remind ourselves that our health does depend on taking the time to appreciate the beauty we're given, telling ourselves that our focus is on what's needful, and not the fears that take us away from good health in every sense.  It's a common theme that so often we feel we can solve problems simply by worrying about them, when so often it is patience that is necessary to await a solution -- and time to contemplate the better and beautiful things that gives us a refreshed mind more able to cope with whatever the troubles of today really are.  Let us remember our need for beauty, and our Father in heaven who knows what all our needs are, and take heart in what is good, without giving in today to what rightfully belongs only to tomorrow.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."

- Luke 12:22-31

Yesterday we read that it came to pass, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples."  So He said to them, "When you pray, say:  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us day by day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.  And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."  And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.  So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will be give him a serpent instead of a fish?  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

 Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."   My study bible notes here that Jesus is warning against anxiety, and not against thoughtful planning.  It notes that our physical well-being is directly dependent upon God, and indirectly on food and clothing.  It says that great anxiety over earthly things demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.  This statement, life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing, is a statement about the true reality of our natures as creatures of God.  We are something more, and His emphasis is on the more that we truly need.

"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?"  God's love and care extends to all of nature.  Ravens are an interesting bird for Jesus to mention.  As animals they are known in cultures worldwide for their intelligence.  In Scripture, it is said that a raven fed Elijah in the wilderness (see 1 Kings 17:2-16, a story in itself about dependence upon God).  If we think about it, that God endows a bird with such intelligence teaches us Jesus' point about the value of human beings.  The lilies are themselves gorgeous, arrayed in great beauty by God -- even the purple reserved only for kings in Christ's time.  All of nature, therefore receives the abundance of God's gifts; therefore how much more will we receive?

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things."  Today, as ever, we know the truth of these statements.  The nations of the world fight wars over resources they wish to claim.  But Christ is saying that there is something else that comes first.  My study bible says that in Christ's time, the Gentiles (the nations of the world) served pagan idols, and therefore remained consumed by dependence upon earthly things.  To follow God is to be dependent first upon God, for "your Father knows that you need these things."

"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."  Here is the central theme of Christ's teachings, and also of our faith.  We put first God's kingdom and God's righteousness.  My study bible says that in calling us to be free from anxiety about earthly things, Jesus directs us to look to heaven -- secure in the faith that God will provide what God knows are needed earthly blessings.

Jesus' admonition here is falsely read to mean that we have no need of things mentioned here (as if we live upon air, and matter or material needs are somehow sinful), or it is misunderstood to suggest that in fact God promises us tremendous material bounty and riches in reward for our faith.  Neither of those two interpretations is worthy of Christ nor worthy of the God whom we worship, and neither is worthy of the beauty of our faith, for both reduce our faith to a kind of extreme materialism, one without balance.  But it is precisely of the balance of the world in which we are created to live that Jesus speaks here:  we are creatures who live in both realms; human beings with body and soul, corporeal beings who need spirit to live.  In John 6:63, Jesus says, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."  Here, Christ teaches us one single formula for how we are to live even as beings who have needs in this world:  "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."   The formula is simple:  we put one thing first.  This one thing, the kingdom of God, is worthy of all other sacrifice.  Moreover, there is nothing else worthy of such sacrifice but this kingdom.  To lose our lives in excess anxiety is throwing away the life we're given by God, a waste of our time.  Jesus asks, "And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?"   All the anxiety, time, effort, thinking, and ruminating in the world will not gain us what we truly seek.  Our mission is plain:  we put the kingdom first, we put all things in the hands of God, and our dependency there first.  This is not to say that we won't have jobs, lives, resources to plan wisely for, families to take care of, and all kinds of worldly things to consider in our lives.   Scriptures, again, are full of the stories of those who have lived fully human and worldly lives while seeking first the kingdom of God.  But our command, and our wisdom, is for one thing first of all in our hearts, and that is the one thing that leads to all the rest.  Let us note that what precisely all the rest contains isn't up to us, and it's not a promise engraved in stone like some cash jackpot guaranteed by the lottery this week!  But it is a promise that God knows what we need, and that our work is to understand our dependence upon God and to seek God's kingdom for ourselves as the place where we truly dwell.  Psalm 91 echoes the promises of Christ:  "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation" (Psalm 91:14-16).  Let us remember that living the life of the Kingdom is a day-by-day and hour-by-hour practice.  We don't swear allegiance one moment and presume we are then set up for life; neither do we take it upon ourselves to understand what this means in terms of what our lives should look like.  The saints of every age are unique, and their unique missions testify to the idea that each one takes up his or her own cross daily to dwell in this place and to practice one's faith.   In prayer, we seek to cement the relationship in which we put God's kingdom first, and then we seek to meet each challenge of life in that faith, asking for guidance, good choices, as well as insight and especially growth.  Life offers us an infinite variety of moments in which we can choose to seek that Kingdom first, and allow ourselves to dwell in God's righteousness -- and remember that it is all a great, long learning curve.  This is where we are as disciples; we are "learners" as the Greek word for disciple truly means.  Let us set our hearts where they need to be, and follow where that learning leads us in each of our lives.  The great beauty of the kingdom of God rivals that of any worldly glory, but we need to be able to see.

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:  "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will tore all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

- Luke 12:13-31

Yesterday we read that as Jesus warned of "woes" to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.  In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.  Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.  And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!  Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?  And not one of them is forgotten before God.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.  But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.  And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.  Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

 Then one from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."  But He said to him, "Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?"  And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  My study bible points out the incongruity between this question and the things that Christ has just been saying, speaking of dependency upon God, and fearless witness, living for the Gospel.  It also adds that it was a custom for respected rabbis to arbitrate personal disputes.  As we have already learned that Jesus is the "knower of hearts," we understand His warning to this man about covetousness.  Where is the focus of this person's heart?  We all must take it to heart that Jesus teaches us that "one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  Such a standard -- judging by the abundance of things one possesses -- is true covetousness, a mistaken focus.

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying:  "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.  And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'  So he said, 'I will do this:  I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will tore all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'  But God said to him, 'Fool!  This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'  So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."   Jesus tells a parable which reveals to us a higher power at work in life than all of our plans and our worldly perspectives.  My study bible cites the teaching of St. Ambrose on this parable:  "The things which we cannot take with us are not ours.  Only virtue will be our companion when we die."  This passage invites us to consider what our worldly goods are for, and in whose service they are put.  Christ invites us to full dependency upon God, so this should apply to our considerations for our material lives and wealth as well -- the perspective we need on wealth is the one given us by our faith!

Then He said to His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things."  My study bible notes here that Christ is not referring here to thoughtful planning, but rather is warning against excessive anxiety.  Where is our focus?  A sense of dependency upon God is essential to developing the perspective on our material lives that are necessary to our well-being, and our personal balance.  It's not that these things don't matter, for as He says, "Your Father knows that you need these things."  Christ is calling us to understand the limits of anxiety and obsessive planning, toward a deeper understanding and reliance upon our relationship to God.  When Jesus says that all these things the nations of the world seek after, He's referring to pagans who worship idols, fully dependent upon earthly things.  Let us note that in these examples Jesus gives, each speaks to the love of God for each of us, even in our worldly lives and for the things that we need.

"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."  Here is our first priority, the focus that we need in order to put all else into the proper focus for our lives.  My study bible says that the kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus' teaching.  It notes that, calling us to be free from anxiety about earthly things, Jesus directs us to look to heaven, secure in the faith that God will provide needed earthly blessings.

The basis for our worship services is an attunement to the reality of the kingdom of heaven.  This is not simply a kind of place that exists separately from this world.  Rather, it is a reality that intersects with our world, that is integral to our own identities, albeit one that is hidden and that we don't often perceive.  Jesus invites us into this perception, an active and knowing awareness that God is not just at work in our lives, but is closer than our heartbeat, ever-present with us, watching and knowing and caring.  Moreover, not only is God concerned with us, but Jesus calls us to be fully concerned with God.  Our awareness of the things of God, and the kind of living awareness of God's richness for us, must create a backdrop to life in which our priorities are all affected.  We must live for this Kingdom, the life that our communion with God calls us toward.  Our focus starts there, and this puts everything else into its proper order for us.  Will we lose an inheritance?   Do we have as much as others do?   Are our lives focused only upon how much we have?  These questions can be answered in the light of God's love, or in the absence of awareness of God's love -- and in either case, the answers will be different as black and white.  We are called to the life of the Kingdom, and this means allowing our faith to put into perspective that which we truly need, and that which we don't.  When it looks like we may lack something, faith teaches us about patience.  It teaches us about proper goals.  It teaches us about fulfillment of God's goals for us.  Perhaps there is something we need to let go -- a goal that is unsuitable or that leads us down the wrong path.  To take up one's cross daily means that God is calling us to transcendence, to a kind of perspective that is beyond what we already know and understand.  It is quite remarkable what can happen when we put our affairs in the hands of God, and approach life in a prayerful manner.  An abundance of wealth in life can seem to solve many problems, but it really doesn't work magically to resolve our basic struggles for meaning and purpose.  A focus on wealth, in fact, can create far more problems than it would seemingly resolve.  Jesus gives us images of care and wonder:  the ravens who are cared for by God -- a highly intelligent bird, known for its cleverness in nature; the lilies of the field, robed in splendor which Jesus calls more gorgeous than Solomon in all his glory.  And, as in the sayings He gave us in yesterday's reading (above), we are once again assured of our great value to our Creator.  The image of beauty Christ gives to us in comparing the lilies to Solomon's array gives us an important sense of the Kingdom:  it is beauty itself, and this is what it adds to our lives.  It doesn't matter what our circumstances are, it is participation in the joy and love and richness of the Kingdom that truly adds the dimension of beauty to us, and gives us insight and sensitivity to what beauty truly is.  Christ invites us to learn the virtues through faith, to give up our anxieties to God and put our trust where it belongs -- in the One who truly knows all of our needs.  In times that are uncertain and changing, can we do this?  It will take us to riches we couldn't find otherwise, to a resilience and release from anxiety we can't find elsewhere.

Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient to the day is its own trouble

 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient to the day is its own trouble."

- Matthew 6:25-34

We are currently reading the Sermon on the Mount, chapters 5 - 7 of Matthew's Gospel.  Yesterday we read that Jesus taught:   "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."

 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"  Jesus is warning here against anxiety -- not against thoughtful planning, my study bible says.  Our physical well-being is directly dependent on God, and indirectly on food, drink, and clothing, it notes.  Anxiety over worldly things demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  My study bible says that because the Gentiles served pagan idols, they remained consumed by dependence on earthly things.  A reliance on God frees us from this dependence.  This is the second time that Jesus has reminded His hearers that "your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  In speaking about prayer, He contrasted pagan prayer (using "vain repetitions") with the type of prayer to the Father He was teaching, saying, "Therefore do not be like them.  For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" (see Tuesday's reading).

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient to the day is its own trouble."  The central theme of all of Jesus' teaching is the kingdom of God, and God's righteousness is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount.  Christ calls us to detach from our anxiety of earthly things so that we may look to heaven and dwell upon that faith for what we need for our lives, knowing that God is aware of our needs.  There is an important emphasis here on what is appropriate to the time, and where our focus is.   Life will always present challenges, but we needn't add to them with excess worry.

Jesus gives us an important emphasis to focus on our relationship with God.  This does several things.  He speaks of detachment from material needs.  This is not to say that we don't understand what we need, or that we don't need material things.  On the contrary, He reassures us for the second time that "your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  He's telling us that our primary focus should be on that particular relationship, for our dependency upon God for life is our true dependency.  He asks us to look around at the beauty of the world.  Even the wildflowers have incredible beauty.  We can look to the birds and wonder at their care.  Jesus doesn't say so, but to look around ourselves at the marvel of nature and creation is to reckon with gratitude for what is truly present to us and what it tells us about our place in the cosmos.  God cares for the flowers of the field, for the smallest animals -- and how much value do we suppose God places on us?  The Incarnation itself, the Father sending His Son to be one of us and to fully and completely take on our human life in this world -- what does that really say to us about our worth in the eyes of God?  As Christians, we place our faith, hope, attention, and focus first on God's righteousness.  That is, on living that righteousness ourselves.  This puts everything else on a second rung, and it puts anxiety also in its proper place.  It's important to note as well that this particular focus Jesus teaches us includes mindfulness, a focus on the here and now.  It is a way of staying rooted within our own reality, eyes wide open to what actually is with us today.  Anxiety and worry about the future take us away from a focus on our present reality, and drives us in a kind of frenzy which is based purely on destructive speculation, a fantasy that is wholly negative.  In addition, Jesus teaches us that this sort of entanglement based on excessive attachment can cause us even more troubles than are necessary for us to deal with, adding to our burdens and challenges.  He's quite right when He tells us, "Sufficient to the day is its own trouble."  We don't need to make more for ourselves, our challenges are enough.  In a sense, He's also telling us that the crosses we need take up are measured for us; we should not add to our own burdens ourselves through excess worry and fear for the future.  It should be noted that the word for trouble is the same word as "evil."   Enough is enough.  Let us follow His loving advice!

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these

 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

"So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

- Matthew 6:25-34

We are reading through the Sermon on the Mount, which began with Matthew chapter 5, and the Beatitudes.  In Saturday's reading, Jesus taught:  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The lamp of the body is the eye.  If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!  No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon."

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?"  Here my study bible emphasizes that Jesus is warning against anxiety, not thoughtful planning.  Because our physical well-being is directly dependent upon God, and only indirectly on food, drink, and clothing, we live in all ways within that relationship.  Anxiety over earthly things, my study bible says, demonstrates a lack of faith in God's care.

"So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"  Jesus gives us a sense of the natural beauty of life and the care built into even the smallest details of each form of life in creation.  All of creation, He's saying, is filled with God's love and care.  If even the grass of the field, with its extremely transient life, is so clothed by God with beauty, how much will God care for our adornment and clothing?

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For after all these things the Gentiles seek.  For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  My study bible says that because the Gentiles served pagan idols, they remained consumed by dependence upon earthly things.  Those who follow God can be freed of this dependence.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."  The kingdom of God, my study bible tells us, is the central theme of all of Jesus' teaching, and His righteousness is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount.   If we place first the kingdom of God and God's righteousness by which we live in that kingdom even in this world, our focus is in proper order and right-relationship even with worldly things.  We rely on God for our lives, and God adds blessings to our lives.  "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" is good advice in an age of anxiety and depression.

Above all things, Jesus gives us righteousness, or right-relatedness.  In all things, we put our relationship to God first.  We cultivate our faith first, because this puts everything in the proper order in life.  Our worldly blessings, Jesus says, will be added unto us.  It is a recipe against anxiety, for a way of seeing our lives in context of the true relationship we have in faith and with the Creator of all things.  Above all, everything depends on what we put first.  It is the righteousness in the life of the Kingdom that Jesus emphasizes throughout the whole Sermon on the Mount, and it is this that He says is our greatest treasure that leads to all other good things and our understanding and proper appreciation of them.  Let us note carefully that Jesus does not despise the needs we have in life for clothing and food.  On the contrary, He points out the beauty of the natural things of the world, even the simplest flowers that grow in the fields.  It is such that God creates and adorns in raiment that bests even Solomon in all his glory.  Jesus wants us to understand that it is the love of God that comes first before all things, and within that context we live in each moment, each care, each need.  When He tells us that "after all these things the Gentiles seek," He is referring to a form of idolatry, where these cares and concerns come first -- outside of the context of faith and love of God.  Therefore, so much depends on this teaching about what we put first, what we seek first.  For Christ, the deepest teaching He does is right here:  "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  First comes the trust we place in God, the seeking of the Kingdom Jesus says is at hand.   Modern forms of illnesses take on the shape of this broken trust:  addictions of all kinds, anxieties and their connection to depression.  Medications for these illnesses top the sales of all pharmaceuticals around the world.  Christ knows our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and He knows our needs.  He understands what we need and what are our concerns.  He doesn't expect us not to have them, nor to ignore our desires for food, drink, and clothing.  But He also knows what hurts us and debilitates us, what keeps us from experiencing God's love and the trust of this deepest relationship, to Creator, the One who loves us and who wishes most fervently that we are one (John 17:20-21).  It is this depth of relatedness and communion to which Jesus points, a life filled with blessings too deep and varied to count, in which we can see God's love for ourselves in the care of the birds and the beauty of the natural world around us.  Let us remember that all of the Sermon on the Mount is meant to point to the righteousness of this life of communion, the kingdom of heaven and our growth within it, our way and journey in faith.  He opens the door -- He is the door.  Let us work on our reliance on God, and an active faith that seeks to discard the unnecessary anxieties that may plague our lives in the demands of a modern world so that we may find His care and direction instead.