The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (CL)

Matthew 6:16-34
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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 which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious 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 arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 6:16–34). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

What is your greatest fear in life? Has anyone ever asked you that before? In the Movie Coach Carter he repeats this question over and over "what is your greatest fear?" For most of us there are so many things we are afraid of it is hard to narrow it down. Others lie to themselves and say they are not afraid of anything. But then there is another great quote from The First Knight, "If you fear nothing than you love nothing." God tells us to Fear and Love him above all things.

Jesus points out some of the most common fears people have. Some people have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. Other people will worry about their house or property being destroyed. Some others worry about having proper clothing or how nice they are dressed. I doubt that anyone actually reading this blog is truly worried about their next meal. But you may be worried about your fashion or clothing. You would not be very happy to run around in rags or maybe you do and call that fashion.

Lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven. We can not serve two masters. We either serve God alone or we serve our stomachs, our clothing, our property, or our Money. Those two quotes I brought up earlier are quite telling. Most of the time our Greatest fear in life has to deal with our Greatest Love in Life.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart your soul and your mind. Fear the LORD your God only. He is our Master. He is the one who has bought you with a price. He is the one who has washed you and made you clean. He is the one who gives you eyes ears and all your members. He is the one who provides you with food clothing and shelter. He is the one who has loved us so much that he gives all this to you out of Father divine goodness.