Every year the American Psychological Association adds to the growing list of anxiety disorders which seem to be popping up. The phobia list is a handy reference guide for anything which might cause you to worry. Here are just a few to get you started:
Atomic Explosions- Atomosophobia
Bridges or of crossing them- Gephyrophobia.
Chopsticks- Consecotaleophobia
Mother-in-law- Pentheraphobia
Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing.
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus addresses the question of fear and anxiety and worry by pointing out three things to avoid, and two things to desire: Don’t be worrying about food/ clothing/ and tomorrow; instead seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness:
[31] Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'
[32] For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
[33] But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
While there is a tendency to think primarily in terms of trusting (trusting God vs trusting wealth), Jesus begins by talking about serving. The language used to set the scene is one of servitude or slavery. Trust involves choice, but slavery involves no choice - it is forced upon you. What we are faced with is not a decision as to whether or not we will serve a master, but only what kind of master we will serve. And Jesus wants to prod the fence sitters:
[24] "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. [25] Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
"a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other." There does not seem to be much middle ground there. Can God and wealth be so opposed? Well, perhaps not, but serving God and serving wealth certainly are.
It was one of the characteristics of the Roman Emperors that they would keep the people in perpetual anxiety over the necessities of life in order to get their allegiance and obedience. But Jesus says that God’s kingship does not work that way. God is not interested in keeping us in perpetual anxiety and worry, rather, He wants to free us from anxiety and worry: “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink”.
Someone I read pointed out that we can trust Jesus to take away our sins and give us eternal life, but we have trouble trusting him for the next sandwich. Says a lot, doesn't it?
Jesus gives us a roundabout question: “Isn’t life more than food and clothing?” - of course we are supposed to agree with him that "life is more than food, and the body more than clothing". But we are then faced with the question: what is the "more"? Have you ever found yourself asking – is this it? What the "more" is will be told in verse 33. But for now we are told what we are to avoid: worrying about life in terms of food, drink and clothing. In a society whose advertising industry is built on the foundation of worry, this is either a frightening or a freeing message. Think of the collect for morning prayer (BCP): "whose service is perfect freedom".
[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 can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? [28] And why do you worry 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 clothed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you--you of little faith?
So how does Jesus propose we stop our worrying? Jesus turns our attention not to the negative characteristics of "wealth", but to the positive characteristics of God. It is interesting how his persuasion proceeds. He does not preach here against the evils of wealth or possessions. Instead, Jesus asks us to consider the character of God, our "heavenly Father." This is the true starting point, and a good lesson in apologetics: begin with the goodness of God, rather than with the fault of that which you are trying to condemn.
Secondly, we are invited to consider ourselves in terms of realizing that we are worth something to God – look at the birds of the air; “are you not of more value than they?” We might tend to slip over this verse, perhaps out of a fear of - oh I don't know - thinking too highly of ourselves or something like that. Fair enough; there is more than enough back-patting in Christian circles; why do we need an affirmation or mini-course in self esteem at this point? Jesus asks us to consider, really consider, that we have value in God's eyes. I wonder if this is more connected with the preceding thought: our value in God's eyes is due to the goodness of His character, rather than of ours.
[31] Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' [32] For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33] But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. [34] So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
Here we have the goal and purpose of the church – to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.
What are our priorities? – as individuals and as a community?
Have we ever done anything which requires us to trust God?
There is a good deal of food for thought when this gospel passage is heard alongside Isaiah:
They shall feed along the ways, on all the bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them...But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me." Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
The question about what we shall eat and drink takes can take on a new meaning when heard in the context of communion. With what do we feed our souls? There is a marvellous answer to that question for those who hold to a higher view of the sacramental grace offered to us in the Eucharist.
Comments