From the Daily Lectionary for Thursday in the Fifth Week of Easter
Matthew 6:25-34
‘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.’
Don’t worry about what you will eat or drink, or what you will wear… don’t worry whether you will catch the Coronavirus or not. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Don’t worry about your very life. Timely, eh?
This is Matthew yet again drawing attention to the fact that the kingdom of God is not a future event, that its reality is manifest in the present moment; that creation is, as it was in the beginning… good. It seems to me, and I hope not to over-simplify, that the way into this awareness is gratitude; to take account of, marvel after, the earth’s beauty, the gift that is life, in spite of its myriad travails. Again, the idea is that we really have no control over the future. It is never what we expect. It never unfolds according to plan…. So why worry? The future is an illusion, a mere fantasy of the mind, most often a projection of our own fears. And Jesus’ recurring admonition is ‘fear not.’ We should listen to that.
Matthew in a flourish of some sound advice, avails himself of the opportunity to yet again make his case for the imminent reign of God. It has to do with how we spend our energy and passion… “where our treasure is” to put Matthew’s words on it: Put your time and talent and energy and imaginations; your improvisational skills… all that you are, into bringing about God’s righteousness, which by now you, gentle reader, know to be God’s Justice.
I say this as a citizen of the post-Freudian, post-existential, self-obsessed, postmodern world: To serve God’s Justice, God’s all-encompassing favor, the greater Good, the Love of neighbor… is just good therapy! So stay well in mind, body, and Spirit… just for today. Hold fast to the faith. Act as if it were true. Let Love be your refuge in this strange and marvelous time; and know that Shalom brims in this world no matter the circumstance. In this moment, I am so very grateful for that.
A Prayer for Joy in God’s Creation (BCP p. 814 adapted)
Holy One, who has filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; that rejoicing in your whole creation, we may learn to serve you with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were made, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
