Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time A  February 27, 2011

  Isaiah 49:14-15  Psalm: 62   1 Cor 4:1-5   Matthew 6:24-34

In God alone is my soul at rest

In God is my hope and salvation

When one considers the turbulence in North Africa – Tunisia, Egypt, Libya – the people in those countries could really cry out the responsorial psalm from the very depths of their heart. However the response in our readings today is not a cry of anguish, fear or nearing despair. It is one of quiet trust in the Lord. In that spirit, each one of us can sing or say the response.  We are not troubled in the same ways as the Libyans with Ghadaffi, but we do have our own immediate needs judging from the prayer requests we get.

I am travelling. I am going for surgery. I have financial problems

There are hurts and pains in our family I am estranged from my parents. Like Paul, I have a thorn in my flesh, and I pray the God to take it away from me.

We know the Lord can and will come to our aid and help. Isaiah tells us so in our  first reading. These are words of consolation first uttered to the People of Israel who are in exile. The people feel that God has abandonned them. Isaiah assures them that this is not the case. Isaiah uses a daring metaphor:

 A woman never forgets her child

 A woman will never abandon the child, no matter what the danger.

Isaiah says in this unlikely scenario, a woman may forget her child, but God will never forget or abandon you.  No wonder we respond” “In God ALONE is my soul at rest.”

Our second reading from Paul continues from the last few Sundays. There are divisions within the church – depending on the skills of leadership. A bold and charismatic leader like Peter or Apollos or Paul immediately finds followers. Things have not changed since Paul’s time, have they? Parishioners have come here from all over Toronto – crossing a dozen or more parishes to come here. We find a parish or a Presider of the Eucharist  who is available, cheerful, substantial and we do not want to trade him for another.

Paul himself in his eagerness to keep up to date, - will listen, admire and imitate other preachers. These are more or less like our own successful TV evangelists today. However, Paul will warn his own church communities, that the Apostles and Disciples are not there to build kingdoms for themselves. They are stewards and servants  to the Word of God. They are to take care of and build up the gifts given to them for the Kingdom of God. Being faithful stewards is a natural response to a God who takes care of our needs. When we have confidence in God, we can be deacons and stewards without fear, - with confidence.

Little Johnny sat down at table. He tucked into his food with gusto. His aunt rebuked him, “Johnny are you not going to say your grace before meals.”. Johnny replied with a mouth full, “I do not need to, my mother is a wonderful cook.” Such confidence. No wonder, we too can say with Johnny, “In God alone is my soul at rest.”

Jesus asks for a similar trust in the Gospel today. The leading vs:24 sets the tone and pattern for the rest of the teaching of Jesus in the Gospel pericope. “No man can serve two masters” is the foundation of Jesus’ teaching on the use of material things and money.

In God ALONE is my soul at rest.

In God, ALONE will I trust.  As a result – trusting in money, cannot be considered an alternative. We can hedge our bets when it comes to investing our money. But we cannot and do not have any back-up plans when it comes to trusting in God. There is no plan “B” just in case.

The teaching that Jesus gives in the Sermon on the Mount is mainly for his disciples. He speaks to them about their attitude towards money. This is important because they are going to be handed the awesome responsibility of preaching the Kingdom. Jesus says that money is there ( or not there) for our use. It must serve us and not the reverse. However, if we were to take a reality check, we will find that our greatest stress and anxiety in families today comes from our worrying about money. Our decisions, our priorities, our lifestyles put MONEY before God. As one spiritual director said. Money is the pilot and God is the co-pilot in the lives of many of us. It is up to us to see what is wrong with this picture.

Our song should be: Don’t worry, be happy. God will take care of our basic needs. God will take care of our food, clothing and shelter. If God does this for the birds of the air and lilies of the field, - how much more will God do it for us, - after all we are more important  and wonderful than birds and flowers. We have been made in God’s own image and likeness. God has more time and energy for you and me.