Do not be anxious

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary 8

Matthew 6: 24-34

Do not be anxious


24* “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.

Grace and peace to your from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

I heard about a ninety-five year old woman at the nursing home who received a visit from one of her fellow church members. The visitor asked her, "How are you feeling?"

She said, "I’m worried sick!"

Her friend said, "What are you worried about? You look like you’re in good health. They’re taking good care of you, aren’t they?"

She said, "Yes, they are taking very good care of me."

"Well, then, what are you worried about?"

The elderly lady leaned back in her rocking chair and said, "Every close friend I ever had has already died and gone on to heaven. I’m afraid they’re all wondering where I went!"

We can laugh at the illustration, but isn’t that the truth, we will all find something to worry about. But our gospel lesson this morning tells us not to worry as the text says: 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?’