Anthony Rosso of the diocese of Leeds in England brings us a reflection on this week's
Gospel for the Eighth Sunday of the Year. Anthony is currently studying at the Venerable
English College here in Rome and is due to be ordained deacon in the summer. Listen:
Gospel Mt
6:24-34
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? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn
from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you
that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God
so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven
tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do
not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’or ‘What are
we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that
you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow
will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”