Dcn Tom Lindell
Greetings my brothers and sisters,
It is clear that Jesus knows his audience. They are poor and often working day to day. At best they are sharecroppers working for a landowner. He is well aware of their anxieties about what might lie around the corner. He speaks to them in hyperbole, exaggerated claims not intended to be taken literally. Jesus suggests that ultimately, God will provide. Therefore, do not fret about what to eat, drink, or wear. Strive first for the Kingdom of God.
God does not literally provide food, drink, or clothes. Hope lies within the community to share what they have to make ends meet. We are our brother’s keeper!
I have heard on numerous occasions from those who have served in countries where subsistence is a major concern. However, those who went there came away with a learning that, despite what they viewed as poverty, those who lived there did not seek pity but rather lived out a life exhibited by abundance. Characteristic of those people was a sense of community accompanied by sharing whatever they had with others in need.
In our highly competitive society, some people are most concerned with self-preservation. They view the world through the lens of their own making. From their perspective, there is little need or time for communal attention. On the other hand, there are those who gather to overtly create community. Many of these are found in churches. The churches that survive are those whose attention is not inward but focused outward beyond the boundaries of the church campus, sharing their abundance with those in need.
Fortunately, Saint Philip’s community continues to maintain a focus outward into the broader community. Without attention to what lies outside their boundaries, churches die of self-destruction.
P.S. My other option from the lectionary today was 1 Corinthians 7:25-31, where Paul states: “Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.” Not going to go there!
—Dcn Tom