Consider the Lilies

Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.’ But he said to him, ‘Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?’ And he said to them, ‘Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.’ Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’ He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, 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, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:13-31

The calendar is moving towards the colder months and the flowers of summer are gone. They will return again at the right time. I vividly remember the lilies in my parent's yard. My Nanny WalkingStick had planted them simply because she loved them. They were so vibrant and plentiful. When you walked out in the morning, it was impossible to not brush against them and be sprinkled with the morning dew. They were resplendent long after she was gone. We are invited to enjoy the blessings we have been given, setting aside our worries, knowing God will provide in abundance.

Loving Creator, you adorn the world with beauty

flowers, trees, gorgeous sunsets and rainbows

reminders all of your endless love for everyone

help us to trust you in every moment today.

We worry about elections and too much violence

we worry for our children and our grandchildren

we worry for our parents and for the future

yet you have the present and future in your hands.

Help us today to revel in the gifts you give us

help us to share the abundance you provide

let us set worry aside and work for love alone

so the world might see your love for everyone. Amen.