8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) – 26th February 2017

Theme: SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS SALVATION AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO US AS WELL

Isaiah 49:14-15;
Psalm 61:2-3. 6-9. R/ v. 6;
1 Corinthians 4:1-5
Matthew 6:24-34

1. Today is the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Year A. The gospel today tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all the other things will be given to us as well! That is, to seek first the kingdom of God and his love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation and all the other things will be given to us as well! (CSB)
The gospel today also tells us that we cannot be the slave of two masters; we will either hate the first and love the second or we will treat the first with respect and the second with scorn; we cannot serve both God and money. We must serve God alone and we must not serve money; and God will provide us with food and drink and clothing and money!
That is why our religious priests, brothers and sisters take the vow of poverty; not because poverty is good, not even because to identify with the poor to work for social justice, but because to trust in God, to trust in his providence, to trust that God will provide!
We who are not religious, who do not take the vow of poverty, should also practice voluntary poverty, that is, to trust in God, to trust in providence, to trust that God will provide!
Again, seek first the kingdom of God and his love, mercy, forgiveness and salvation and all the other things will be given to us as well!
2. The first reading follows the theme of the gospel. The first reading tells us that a mother will not forget her baby at her breast or forget the son of her womb. In the same way God will not forget us!

More importantly, the first reading tells us that even if a mother forgets her baby at her breast and forgets the son of her womb, God will not forget us! That is, God loves us with an “everlasting love”, not with a human love! (NJB)
That is why we trust in him, trust in his providence, trust that he will provide!
Again, seek first the kingdom of God and his salvation and all the other things will be given to us as well!
3. The responsorial psalm follows the theme of the first reading. The responsorial psalm is a “Song of Trust in God Alone”! (HCSB; CSB) That is why we responded three times:
“In God alone is my soul at rest.” (Ps 61:6; SM)
The responsorial psalm has three stanzas. All three stanzas are an expression of trust in God by the psalmist! The last verse of the third stanza instructs the community to also trust in God! (HCSB) Thus we read in the responsorial psalm:
“In God alone is my soul at rest; my help comes from him. He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.
In God is my safety and glory, the rock of my strength. Take refuge in God all you people. Trust him at all times. Pour out your hearts before him.” (Ps 61:2-3. 6-9; SM)
4. The second reading is a continuation of the second reading of last Sunday. In the second reading of last Sunday (1 Co 3:16-23; SM) Paul tells the Corinthians that he is their servant to serve them. (NJB) In the second reading of this Sunday Paul tells the Corinthians that although he is their servant, they are not his judge. They are not to judge his worthiness in the ministry. Only God and Christ can judge him at the Parousia, that is, at the second coming of Christ. (CSB)
So, do not judge your priests and bishop, but support them and pray for them!
5. Today we thank God for the gift of his creation and especially for the gift of his salvation and we ask God to help us to seek first his kingdom and his salvation and all the other things will be given to us as well! God bless you! Amen!