SAINTS JOHN FISHER AND THOMAS MORE, MARTYRS (OPT. MEMORIAL)

Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus encourages his disciples not to worry about the essentials of life like food or clothing. “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,” he counsels, “and all these things will be given you besides” (Matthew 6:33). But does this mean that if you simply say the right prayers, you’ll have everything you need?

No. God’s care for you isn’t like a contract where if you do this, God is obliged to do that.

So what does it mean to seek first the kingdom? It means to seek Jesus himself. Seek him before all else, and as you do, he will change your attitudes, your priorities, and even the things you worry about. He will help you to trust in his provision.

What might this look like? Let’s start with prayer. Even when praying seems more like a chore than a time of communion with God, he honors your efforts to worship him; he changes your heart so that it reflects his own. He makes it humbler, simpler, more loving. And that affects everything else.

It changes the way you relate to your family. You find joy in expecting not to be served at home but to serve your family members. When you seek to love as Jesus loves, you create a loving environment in your home, where strained relationships can be healed.

It changes the way you approach your work. You try to honor God whether or not you get rewarded for it. As you take the focus off yourself, your performance might even improve!

It changes your perspective. You start to see with Jesus’ eyes what you really need and what’s not essential. With that new outlook, you might even realize you’re the richest person in the world!

So seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. Because as you do, you will receive the blessing of becoming more and more like Jesus and sharing his love in every area of your life.

“Lord, help me to seek you above all things.”

2 Chronicles 24:17-25
Psalm 89:4-5, 29-34
Matthew 6:24-34