“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on.” Matthew 6:25

“It is impossible for us to solve the riddles of life. Neither can we attain by a perspicacious solution of all the problems of the universe the proof that the reins of government are in the hands of God, who guides all things well; nor have we in our religious faith the means of solving these problems. The will of God suffers no question. But we can win the strength to bear the burden of these mysteries, if we do not allow ourselves to be mastered by tormenting fears about the material side of life, but rather seek with all our hearts and minds the kingdom of God…” (Rudolf Bultmann (1884 – 1976) “For All The Saints” volume I)

“Seek with all our hearts and minds the kingdom of God…” Fear. Anxiety. Welcome to 2020 and the year of the pandemic. What are you most afraid of? Are you afraid of failing? Are you afraid of flying? Are you afraid of spiders, the dark, snakes, hearses, or being alone? Are you afraid of catching Covid-19? There are many things that can make us anxious or afraid. When I was younger, I used to be afraid to walk into hospitals. Every time I entered a hospital to visit a family member or friend, my throat would tighten, my heart would race, and I would break out into a sweat. Today, I spend some weeks going to the hospital every day. My fear subsided once I recognized that my fears were something I needed to face – and with G-d’s help, and time, the fear went away.

The text from Matthew is dealing with a different kind of fear – the fear of material things – or better said, a lack of material things. There are a lot of people who lack in our society and in our world – and 2020 has brought that to our attention like no other recent year. These people lack material necessities for a variety of reasons: a lack of money, the lack of available resources, societal greed and hoarding, etc. It is in these moments where we need to look to our abundance and seek ways to help those in need. In Luke’s version of the Beatitudes, Jesus said: 

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.” Luke 6:20-21

It is one thing to be without – it is another to be without but to trust that G-d will provide. But G-d cannot do it alone – we need to be the hands and feet that feed the hungry and clothe the naked. “Do not be anxious about your life.” This is easier said than done – but so goes the way of the cross. I have found in my life that of all of the worrying and concern about running out of stuff, or not having enough stuff has never come to fruition — G-d has always provided.

Pastor Dave