Our discomfort reminded me what Jesus is telling us today, that the blessings we enjoy may also be our roadblocks – our attachments to people and things and material goods make it much harder to live life in harmony with God.  What Jesus is calling us to do today, and what the people of Judah did not do, is to be in tune with God, to synchronize our actions with the life that God calls us to live, to detach ourselves from things that do not matter and to help God do the things that need to be done to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

2 Chronicles 24:17-25

Psalm 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34

M atthew 6:24-34 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and mammon. (25) "Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (26) 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? (27) And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? (28) And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; (29) yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (30) But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? (31) Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' (32) For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (33) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. (34) "Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.”

Meditation by Tom Purcell

W hen I first read the passages from Chronicles and from Matthew they did not seem to belong together.  Chronicles relates a wrathful Lord, one intent on providing the Jewish people with the lesson of the day – transgress the Lord’s commands and find yourselves smashed by invading Arameans. Jesus, on the other hand, provides a most spiritual message – detach yourselves from material goods and wants, and be more trusting, as are the birds and the wildflowers. 

But when I reflected on these passages later, it seemed to me that they are related after all.  The princes of Judah engaged in conduct that demonstrated they had lost their focus, had taken an easier way, had mistaken the value of their gift from God and thus placed short-term expediency over long-term growth.  They ceased to be other-directed and focused on the Lord, and were more self-directed and focused on self.

Jesus tells His listeners that they should focus on things that matter and not those that are distractions.  Jesus challenges His listeners to live more simply, less acquisitively, more spiritually.  Jesus encourages us to be more faith-filled and less troubled by the things we are powerless to change.

In my part of the world this is an absolutely gorgeous time of year.  We are fortunate to live in a semi-rural area, and the songbirds at dawn always bring a smile to my face and joyful gratitude to my heart.  These late spring mornings remind me to slow down, to listen with a quiet heart, to hear the word of the Lord in my daily rhythms. 

And yet, even in the midst of this wonderful time come reminders of our ultimate helplessness and thus dependency on God.  In the midst of writing this reflection, we experienced a sudden violent thunderstorm that destroyed many of the trees that line the main road to our home, and with the trees the power lines.  We also lost several huge trees in our yard.  We were without power for 24 hours, and the comfortable rhythm of our lives changed immediately.  We couldn’t cook, or watch television, or read (except with flashlights).  We became, however briefly, reacquainted with candles and quick showers and feeling uncomfortable in our own home.  I was reminded of how fortunate we are – our temporary lack of normal conveniences pales in comparison with the lives of many people for whom candles, or running water, or reliable energy, are luxuries. 

Our discomfort reminded me what Jesus is telling us today, that the blessings we enjoy may also be our roadblocks – our attachments to people and things and material goods make it much harder to live life in harmony with God.  What Jesus is calling us to do today, and what the people of Judah did not do, is to be in tune with God, to synchronize our actions with the life that God calls us to live, to detach ourselves from things that do not matter and to help God do the things that need to be done to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth.

And so my prayer today is to find the comfort of God in the uncomfortable, to open my hands instead of grasping, and to seek the simple and sublime.

Supplementary Reading

Store it Up

Therefore, know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments - Deuteronomy 7:9  

J esus went before us and paved the way for victory. Because He lives, we can live in victory in this life and in eternity. But not only can we live in victory, we can help others live in victory, too. We can help the people around us, and we can help the people who are coming after us. We can store up mercy, peace and blessings for future generations.

The life we live should make it easier for the people after us. By living a life of excellence, we are leaving a mark for future generations. And really, that’s what matters most in eternity. It’s good to leave an inheritance, but the most valuable thing you can leave on this earth is a legacy of faith.

Listen to more about storing up blessing and favor . . .

Father God, today I choose to focus on eternal things. I choose to store up a legacy of faith, mercy, excellence and hope for future generations. Help me, by your Spirit, to live a life that honors You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.—Joel & Victoria Osteen

For archive of previous Daily Meditation postings, please visit http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com/

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GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.