Matthew 6:24-34

Fr Joe has written this short reflection on the Gospel passage from today’s Mass.

“No one can be the slave of two masters. You cannot be the slave both of God and money”. Either one adores the true God or worships the demonic power of money. Earthly possessions can threaten the undivided love that God expects from us his children. There are dangers and pitfalls surrounding money and the accumulation of temporal goods. What is our greatest attachment? Who or what do we pursue more?

Each disciple must face and pass the test that Jesus underwent and withstood in the desert when he was tempted by power and wealth and who he truly worshipped (Matthew 4:1-11). We all have to make a choice at some point, it is unavoidable. Who rightly can claim to be God in my life? God or mammon.

Jesus then goes on to speak about anxiety about what to eat, our bodies and clothing. And these are genuine concerns for many people. Jesus is not forbidding us not to be concerned about our physical well being but rather having an anxiety which expresses total absorption in the things and goods of this world. Do we have an inordinate, an exaggerated attention or attachment, an intemperate desire for food, luxury, wealth, possessions? Discipleship should free us to trust in God the giver and the sustainer of our life. God can free us from the slavery of the world and from the anxieties of our every- day needs.

Jesus uses the images of birds and lilies to demonstrate where we stand in relationship to God. If such loving care is reserved to them by the Creator, how much more does our Father care for us, the jewel of His creation. Jesus challenges our faith “Ye men of little faith”. Seek the Kingdom of God first, the things of God and once the Kingdom of God has invaded our lives, God will look after the rest. This is what we call God’s providence. The kingdom of God should shape our present life, giving us a higher security than to the fleeting things of earth. God knows what we need. We know what we want and that is not always the same.

Jesus is simply saying. Do not give more attention to the fleeting future of tomorrow but to the absolute and definitiveeternal kingdom of God. Be free of our confused priorities and use our wealth to serve God and God in each other. We must prioritize the pursuit of holiness above all and trust in God’s care (not an excuse for doing nothing or laziness).