The Second Sunday before Lent
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…
Collect
Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image:
Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit
reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever.
Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.
Moreover, it is required of stewards that they should be found trustworthy. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself. I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.
Matthew 6: 24-34
‘No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.*
‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?”
For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God* and his* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’
Is Jesus suggesting, not to eat and drink? And is he saying we should not wear clothes but go naked?
How unrealistic is this, and how depressing – we need to eat and drink, and we need clothing.
Or are we called to acts of severe penitence, fasting, wearing sack cloth and pouring ashes over our heads?
And how would anyone, who struggles with putting food on the table and getting the basics of life, perceive those lines? Does Jesus not care about their struggles?
On the contrary.
Jesus speaks here about human obsession with material stuff, wealth, pomp and fashion, and about getting our priorities right.
Isn’t life worth more than making a superficial impression on others? He encourages us, NOT to worry but to value and to treasure life and being God’s creation.
So much time, effort and worrying goes into things that many believe are making us better, happier, superior, more confident, more attractive and more successful. Comparing themselves to others and following expectations which are neither coming from God nor thought through by each person themselves, puts people under pressure and into some sort of competition, resulting in focusing on the all kinds of material things.
Frustration and depression build up in this chase. Where is the joy, the happiness, the gratefulness and love for life which we are looking for?
Not only will we miss out on being and doing what we are created for, we will also cause damage, waste and abuse elsewhere and to others in our greed and obsession.
Jesus gives us permission and encouragement to say: ‘hold on a moment’ and to rethink what really matters to us in life, what really brings out the best in us, what makes us to flourish, be joyful, good humoured, content and loving.
Let’s not worry so much, hasn’t God created us beautifully and with many talents? Does he not want us to be joyful? Hasn’t he provided plentifully?
Hymn 365: Praise to the Lord, the almighty – Lobe den Herrn
There is a little background explanation of the hymn, which is quite nice to listen to, and the music starts at minute 13.
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