Psalms 5, 6 * 10, 11; Deuteronomy 4:15-24; 2Cor 11:1-21a; Matthew 6:16-23Jesus is teaching about priorities and focus today. Should our focus be on gaining attention for ourselves and surrounding ourselves with wonderfully comforting consumer goods? Or should our priorities be centered around worshipping God, true self-evaluation and working toward the building of the Kingdom? Kind of rhetorical questions, I know, when stated in this fashion. But that is the gist of where Jesus is leading us with today's lesson.
We need to face the fact that we all like to have nice things, trendy things at times, comforting and comfortable things around us. If we really think about those "things" throughout our lives, most of those are transitory and Jesus is asking us to own up to that fact. We also need to face the fact that there are times in our lives when we want attention: look, look at me! Again, Jesus is saying we need to be aware of what we are doing, and why, and the effect those actions are having on not only ourselves but those around us.
Can we resist that impulse-buy today? Can we push the focus of attention away from ourselves and onto matters that are not transitory? Jesus is saying that by latching onto the principles he is espousing, our understanding of the world, and the treasures that last, will make our hearts a beacon of hope and love....will draw others to us.....and will not only change our understanding of the world but will assist in the building of God's kingdom all around us.
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Copyright 2011, The Rev. John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
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