JUNE262025

For the past few weeks the daily reading has been taken from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).  The Sermon concludes: When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority. In other words, Jesus’ teaching was not his opinion but words which should be obeyed. Think about some of those teachings: “Stop worrying, your heavenly Father knows what you need. Stop judging, lest you be judge. If someone strikes you on one cheek turn and offer the other. If at the altar you remember your brother has anything against you, first go and be reconciled.” These words of Jesus are not an impossible ideal but words to live by, words that take precedence as we strive to find our way in the world. Even for believers the human tendency is to decide what we want to do and then see how it comforms with the gospel. The word of God challenges us to reverse the process and to “seek first the kingdom of God” and make decsisions about everyhing else, work, family, health, finances, as a result.