March 25
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 6:31-34
Reflection
Here we human beings are wanting the good things of life. We are saying. I want what I want when I want it; and Jesus is saying you ought to have they. But they will never come until you fulfill a prior condition: righteous first. Unless first things are placed first then and only then will these things be added unto you.
Now let us turn for the moment to our great desire in the National and International scene. For one thing we want peace. Today the cry that is ringing in the ears of the peoples of the world is peace, peace, peace. I think that the peoples of the world have come to realize that there are no gains from war. They realize that was sends men home physically handicapped and psychologically upset. They realize that war piles up a national debt higher than a mountain of gold and fills our nations with orphans and widows. So everybody is crying for peace. Yet we have no peace . . .
And there is the danger that the flames of war might arise at any time to redden the skies of our dark and dreary world. Why is it that we have no peace in the world today? It is because we have failed to follow the principles of that gentle Prince of Peace who died on a Roman cross atop a Judean hill centuries ago. In other words we have failed to place righteousness first. So long as we place our selfish economic gains first we will never have peace. So long as the nations of the world are contesting to see which can be the most imperialistic we will never have peace. So long as America places “white supremacy” first we will never have peace. Indeed the deep rumbling of discontent in our world today on the part of the masses is actually a revolt against the imperialism, economic exploitation, and colonialism that has been perpetuated by western civilization for all these many years. All of these injustices must be eliminated. if we are to have peace. When will a stupid world rise up to see that a “get tough” ploicy cannot bring peace; universal military training cannot bring peace; the threat of the atomic bomb cannot bring peace; but only through placing love, mercy, and justice first can we have peace.
The voice of Christ is sounding yet. Ah, Christ, you have been saying it a long time. God help us as individuals and as a world to hear it now before it is to late: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these other things shall be added unto you.”
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Action (Commune)
In a time of war, economic chaos, and pandemic, our first thoughts will be for peace, prosperity, and physical health. But as Martin Luther KIng Jr. reminds us, rather than seeking these directly, it is better to seek first God’s kingdom.
Reach out today to those doing Love for Lent with you, or to those who encourage you towards God. Either verbally or in writing, appreciate these people for helping to keep you focused on God’s kingdom. Tell them how you feel you can grow in seeking first the kingdom. Let them know of your commitments for the week.
