Three Words of Wisdom

KINGDOM OF GOD

Photo: R. Massaro St. Dymphna Shrine Massillon, Ohio

Mt 6:24-34
Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:

“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or 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 in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’
or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are we to wear?’
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”


In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and all our temporal needs will be met. This takes courage and trust on our part. It takes heroic courage and trust if one is struggling financially and with unemployment. But even in these challenging times Jesus warns us not to let the love of money rule our heart. God alone should be the "master" that we serve.

St. Paul gives us a look into the kingdom of heaven by describing the souls who live there.  "The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but of justice, peace, and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).

Pope John Paul II and our current Holy Father, Benedict XVI have repeatedly warned us against the sin of materialism.  Many people in our society are living beyond their means because they have to have "it" now.  There is no longer a mentality of  saving for a desired item. The same mentality can be found in the spiritual life. St. John of the Cross teaches us about the plight of beginners. He tells us that many people begin the road of prayer, but when they discover the work involved, they give up easily because their is no "instant gratification." Growing in love and virtue takes patience and hard work, this is difficult for us in our "drive-thru" society.

Even certain Christians have fallen-prey to the "gospel of prosperity" being preached in churches today. St. Paul has a stern warning for those who preach a different word other than what the Lord had given them:
Some who wish to alter the gospel of Christ must have confused you. For even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel not in accord with the one we delivered to you, let a curse be upon him (Galatians 1:8-9)!

The Secular Carmelite is called to be a witness in the world of the kingdom of God by drawing others to a life in imitation of Jesus Christ. Others should be attracted to God through us by our intimate friendship with Jesus Christ, by the living out of our promises of chastity, poverty, and obedience. They should be attracted to God through our lives...The world should know that we are Christians, not because of what we possess, but because of the love we have for one another. 

Life is short, we cannot take our possessions with us.  Let us store up for ourselves treasure in heaven. The Holy Spirit is ready to bestow these precious gifts on the soul who seeks first the Kingdom of God.

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Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
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