02-04-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 4, 2023
Amidst Jesus’ best-known sermon, The Sermon on the Mount, he said to his listeners, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). This is frequently presented as God, the divine genie in a bottle, with some irony. If you do these things, including striving for the kin(g)dom of God and God’s righteousness, then all the previous items mentioned will be given to you—food, drink, and clothing. It sounds pretty wonderful, and all I need to do is strive first for the kin(g)dom of God and God’s righteousness? Actually, that is not technically true, though many would think so. Throughout this section, Jesus was talking to the community. He was using a specific type of "you," the plural "you." In Greek, there is "you," the singular, and "you," the plural, or what we’d call the "y’all" or "you all." And if everyone in the community is seeking the Kin(g)dom of God and God’s righteousness, which includes generosity, compassion, and kindness, then needs would be met. So any community that strives for the reign of God and God’s justice (rightness) will be made up of those who are willing to share for the sake of the neighbor. Maybe it is a little magic, like rubbing a bottle, because it requires people to set aside their fears and greed and to bless others by actually relinquishing what they have. Of course, the other person may have something you need. Tomorrow, we are going to focus a little further into Matthew’s Gospel and some similar words, "Ask… seek… knock…"

​We have freewill that can be lived from a mindset of responsibility to the world around us or from a mindset of self-preservation. O God, it is easy to think of this in theory but a bit more challenging to embody. Continue to empower your beloved community, the church, to live with a spirit of self-giving love. Amen.