Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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.

God doesn’t want us to worry about worldly things. We should trust Him enough to let Him provide what we need to live in the world. Instead, God wants us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our every thought should be focused on doing God’s Will. Our every word should proclaim the Goodness of our Lord. Our every work should express God’s Love and Mercy. God should be the source, center, and summit of our lives. His Divine Image within our souls and the Good News that springs forth from it should be sufficient for us. It should sustain us through our trials. It should give us faith that God will provide for our present and hope that He will do what is best for our futures because He loves us more than anything else and wants us to be with Him forever.

Are we worried about worldly things? If so, then how can we learn to place our trust in God? What can we do to refocus our lives on seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

O Lord, you are all that we need.

Amen.

Seventeenth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

 Before a treasure can be found it must be placed where someone can find it and someone must search for it. God is the one who places the Kingdom of Heaven within our reach. He did this through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. All we need to do is seek it out. Then, once we find it, we must be willing to sacrifice everything we have. Once we are divested and detached ourselves from the world, we will be given the treasure beyond any price. It is the treasure of saving grace that leads to our salvation and life everlasting with God.

What are we searching for in our lives? What are we willing to sell everything for? Do we treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above worldly riches?

O Lord, we would sell everything for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Amen.

Eleventh Saturday of Ordinary Time

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.

Sometimes we can become so worried about worldly things that we lose sight of the goal of life: to know, love, and serve God and His children so that we can get to heaven. The world can swamp us with worries, doubts, and fears as we try to juggle our needs, wants, and hopes. However, as long as we trust in God, He will provide everything we need to not only survive, but to thrive as His children. Worrying about the past or the future can keep us from seeing what we are supposed to be doing in the present. So let us clear our minds of those things that are blinding us to what we should be seeking: the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

What worries, doubts, and fears keep us from doing God’s Will? How can we overcome them? What are we doing today to seek the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness?

O Lord, you know what we need, want, and hope for. Give these things to us in your own way and time.

Amen.