Matthew 6:31 & The Sermon on the Mount
We will deal further with the 3 ideas presented in the last Lesson…
1) Always use common sense combined with prayer.
We need to be careful when interpreting Holy Scripture. The Protestants somehow can read "For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed,” (John 6:56) and still think Holy Communion is merely a symbol. The Jews can somehow read the entire Old Testament and fail to notice how Christ fulfilled every prophecy about the Messiah. We too, can interpret wrongly, if not properly prepared. We need to proceed with prayer and a proper knowledge of the Faith. Being in a state of grace, as should always be our primary concern, will help us as well. If you have not been confirmed for some reason, this is important, to receive all the wisdom of the Holy Ghost. If we are confused, consulting with a good priest or good resource would be in order. It is also important to be well-versed in Scripture as a whole, so all things can be seen in proper context and relation…also, each verse must be carefully taken in its own context.
“Common Sense” is hard to explain these days, in an age where it has completely lost meaning. Several decades ago, there was still a vestige of it, but today it seems utterly lost. However, among the holy, it seems to still exist. Common sense springs forth from the Essence of God Himself. It appeals to an inner-knowing that the world and all its wiles cannot override. It possesses simplicity, reason and balance. It is not a thing that can be taught or over-thought. It is simply there within each of us. Particularly, at this confusing time, we have no other recourse than to appeal to common sense and inner-knowing.
Matthew 6:31 is an important verse from The Sermon on the Mount which contains great wisdom. We must take care to interpret it with the balance of common sense. We are told not to worry about our physical needs. The operative word here is “worry” (“solicitous”). That does not mean do not care for our own physical needs and for those in our care. It is in fact our duty to do so, which brings us to the next point…
2) Do what you can within reason. Beyond this, trust in God.
“Within reason.” This will mean different things to different people, depending on their circumstances. What does “within reason” mean to you? We are familiar with blizzards, blackouts, floods, hurricanes and fires. Now, with the advancement of the New World Order takeover (I am not mentioning covid, because that is the distraction-every twobit magician knows this trick), we are becoming familiar with supply shortages, lockdowns, quarantines and riots. If things continue to escalate, it is not unreasonable to assume access may continue to decrease and self-sufficiency will become more important. Preppers and “truthers” have been predicting these times for years. Only you can answer this question for yourself: What does “within reason” mean to you?” What is your own situation? What are your own responsibilities?
Another point that needs to be said, is that we have been living in unprecedented times for the past century. Normal self-sufficient practices are largely gone from western culture. So something like Matthew 6:31 needs to be taken in that light. In addition, some people have a special calling to a preparedness ministry. These people should not be criticized or judged. In that hour, after the tsunami has hit, those judgers will be thankful they have a safe place to go with their children.
So…do what you can and always trust in God and His Providence. That doesn’t mean bad things can’t still happen to you. “For after all these things do the heathens seek.” We have a fear-obsessed culture which focuses only on this life and physical well-being. When people say to me these days, “Be safe,” I now say to them, “Life is not about being safe.” We must accept that our efforts may at times fail and retain "the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding." (Philippians 4:7)
3) Avoid extremes.
On one end of the scale is living only in the moment, careless of what tomorrow may bring. The other end is a “Doomsday Prepper” compound, complete with mini-army, booby-traps and underground bunker with a deluxe stereo system. There has got to be a happy medium of sanity, holiness, responsibility and trust in God. This is what we are trying to accomplish here at Nomen Christi Apostolate-to find this balance and encourage resilient communities of love and peace which strive to bring back “The Authentic Life,” life as our Creator intended it. This life is inherently safer and self-reliant.
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“Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.” This is one of the most consoling messages of Our Lord and one we should recite frequently to ourselves. In practicality, this means to focus on the work of the day with peace and simplicity. There are times to address the overarching reality, the Big Plan, but for the most part, our lives involve the “mundane” activities. The key that many never understand, is that some of our greatest intuitions and moments of growth come at these times-because the essence of life is within these little things. There is a blessed peace contained in these moments if they are approached with complete acceptance. God will take care of the Big Plan. We especially must trust in this, at a time when unthinkable things are happening in the Church, such as the suspension of Mass obligation. He’s got this. We are His children, purchased by His Son’s very Blood. "I will not leave you orphans." (John 14:18)
“Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.” This is another quote which should be committed to memory and often meditated upon. How can we expect God’s protection in this chaotic life without first being right with Him? Our Lord is illustrating the primary importance of spiritual well-being, for nothing else matters if you have lost your soul. This does not mean that if you are holy, no hardship will come to you, but it suggests that you will have some measure of protection or at least consolation in your sufferings. Take care of your soul and the rest will fall into place.
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The Sermon on the Mount is the most famous sermon in all history and the longest recorded in the Gospels, spanning Chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew. Our Lord begins by teaching the 8 Beatitudes* and then tells us “You are the light of the world.” We must be detached from the world in order to properly transform it. He then teaches His revolutionary transformations of the Old Law. Now that God’s Son has come into the world, perfection can be attained…”Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” “The Lord’s Prayer” is taught and then He goes on to the text we have been discussing. Actually, the full verse comprises Matthew 6:19-34, and contains some of the most poetic language of the Gospels:
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?”
The Sermon concludes with a series of additional admonitions. We can now see the teaching we are focusing on in its context within The Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord is giving us a number of lessons on how to live life, both with respect to God and to man. He is showing us that an evolution is now occurring. God’s revelation of Himself to man has entered its next chapter and greater perfection will be expected. This is understandable, given the great gift of His Son, His Holy Church and the Holy Eucharist. Matthew 6:31 simply expounds upon the Sermon’s themes of detachment and trust in God. The Sermon on the Mount is deeply consoling, especially during times such as our own. These teachings transformed the world once before and can do so once again!
* From Learn Religions:
The word beatitude comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The phrase "blessed are" in each beatitude implies a current state of happiness or well-being. This expression held a powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of Christ's day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are those who possess these inward qualities." While speaking of a current "blessedness," each pronouncement also promised a future reward.