| Gospel | Matthew 6:24-34 |
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.
‘That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing! Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith? So do not worry; do not say, “What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?” It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Eileen Brooks RIP
Reflection
I listen to Jesus’ words not just as advice but consider how he lived them out. I think of the difference his living freely made in the lives of others and continues to make in mine. I talk to him about my worries and listen to his response as he takes on my cares.
Following Jesus advice, I think of how I might take time to consider the natural world. I plan to spend some time with a plant or watching the birds.
Jesus shows us that worry undermines faith. I bring my worries before God and ask for help to bring them into a truer perspective.
As a consumer, I may allow my values to be set by others. I review my wants and desires and ask God’s help to be happy with the
good things that I enjoy, to resist being wistful about what I am told I lack.
