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May 25, 2008 - 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
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.
-- Matthew 6:24-34
Every where you turn you are told to worry. Try this - listen to the radio, read
the newspaper, or talk to the local pessimist and count how many times you are encouraged
to worry. But Jesus teaches us that worry is a waste of time and doesn't add one minute to
your life. In fact, worrying can actually detract from the days here on earth in two ways.
First of all, studies show that stress decreases our life span, so if we expend our
energy in worry we just make ourselves (and those around us) sick. Second of all, worrying
takes away from enjoying the life we have. When we look to the future (which we can't
control) and expect the worst (which rarely happens) we actually miss enjoying God's gifts
of the present.
Hear Jesus' words as invitation. Seek first God's kingdom which is about peace and joy
and love and trust. Look first to God, who is already in the future.
We pray: God of tender care, like a mother, like a father, you never forget
your children, and you know already what we need. In all our anxiety give us trusting and
faithful hearts, that in confidence we may embody the peace and justice of your Son, Jesus
Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Lessons for the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost:
- Genesis 1:1-2:4a
- Matthew 6:24-34
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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