Personal Reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 6: 24-34
Gospel of Matthew 6: 24-34: Love God and Do Not Worry
Reflection on the Gospel of Matthew 6: 24-34: love God above all else and do not worry about anything in your life.
Have you ever read a Bible passage that caused you to pause and really think?
Sometimes we think our faith is just fine and everything is going well, then we hear a Bible passage at Mass or read a segment on our own and realize we can be even closer to God.
Matthew 6: 24-34 is one such passage.
As we reflect on the Gospel of Matthew 6: 24-34, we can understand how God calls us to love Him completely and to trust in Him wholeheartedly.
Jesus said to his disciples:
“No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink,
or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Understand the Gospel of Matthew 6: 24-34
I find it interesting that Jesus tells us we cannot serve two masters (“God and mammon”), then right away says not to worry about how we will live-what we will eat, drink, or wear, or about our bodies.
I looked up the word mammon. In Hebrew it means money. God is telling us we cannot serve Him and earthly wealth at the same time. We need to choose one or the other.
Then, Jesus tells immediately us not to worry about providing for our material needs. This is a directive: He is telling us to not worry.
Next, Jesus talks about how much God cares for us. He tells us how God cares for all of the needs of the birds and reminds us that we are even more important to Him than they are. So, if God cares for their needs, He will care for our needs even more.
Lastly, Jesus reminds us again not to worry. He reassures us that we can completely trust in Him and rely on God to take care of all of our needs.
Completely trust in God.
After reading and reflecting on this passage in the Gospel of Matthew, the question we can ask ourselves is: How can I completely trust in God?
One day at a time! Each day is a new day with new opportunities and new beginnings. Each day we can work to build our trust in God and our knowledge of Him.
Read the Bible.
Reading the Bible, especially the Gospels, can help us to come to know God even more and understand His great love for us. It can take time for God’s love for us to really sink into our hearts and minds. Be patient. Keep reading the Bible and trusting in God to help you understand His great love for you. He will help you.
As we grow in our understanding of God’s great love for us, we can more easily grow in how much we trust Him.
If you are new to reading the Bible or just want some inspiration to help you, you may like these posts:
Create A Simple Catholic Bible Reading Plan
A Bible Reading Plan for Beginners- 3 Different Ways You Can Read the Bible in Just 15 Minutes a Day
Pray
Ask God to help you to fully rely on Him, to trust Him to take care of all of your needs. Make time to learn how to be a good steward of the gifts, talents, and money God gives you so you can use them as He calls you to use them.
You may like these posts:
Fr. Mark-Mary and Fr. Emmanuel’s video: How to Form a Habit of Prayer
God to Mass and receive the sacraments.
The Mass is the greatest prayer we have. We meet Jesus in the flesh during Mass and receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist. What better time to share your heart with Him and ask Him to help you to fully rely on Him than at Mass?
Receiving the sacrament of Reconciliation regularly can help a lot. When you examine your conscience before receiving the sacrament, you can see where you are not not following God in your life or where you have fallen short. Receiving absolution for your sins is then starting fresh again without baggage holding you back from God brings peace to our souls and a renewed energy and conviction to be even closer to God.
These posts may be helpful:
In the Eucharist, God Shows His Love for Us
In the Sacrament of Confession, God Shows His Love for Us
Go forth!
In the Gospel of Matthew 6: 24-34 God calls us to live with complete trust and faith in Him and not worry about anything. Through reading the Bible, praying, going to Mass, and receiving the sacraments, we can learn more about God, His great love for us, and learn to fully rely on and trust in Him.
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