Consider the Lilies

Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will 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 of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34 

Gracious Creator, the world is full of beauty

your abundance is evident everywhere

in every living thing your love shows through

and you provide generously for our daily needs.

You told your followers not to worry at all

pointing to the birds of the air and the flowers

there is good medicine and kindness all around

yet they saw dark and danger in each day.

We hear you remind us not to worry today

yet we are surrounded by disease, global crisis

and we would cry out "it's different now!"

shutting our hearts to your ready abundance.

Help us to open our ears and our hearts

let us trust you for our needs every moment

make us your people who share and provide

so the world might see your love in these times. Amen.