Seek First

Seek First 

Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: "God says, 'Why are you transgressing the Lord's commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.'" But they conspired against him, and at the king's order they stoned him to death in the court of the Lord's temple. Thus, King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, and slew his son. And as Zechariah was dying, he said, "May the LORD see and avenge." 2 Chronicles 24:20-22

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.  Matthew 6:30-33

Piety

“Keep Your Eyes on the Prize” by Pete Seeger

Paul and Silas bound in jail
Had no money for to go their bail
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Paul and Silas thought they was lost
Dungeon shook and the chains come off
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Freedom's name is mighty sweet
And soon we're gonna meet
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

I got my hand on the gospel plow
Won't take nothing for my journey now
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Hold on, hold on
Keep your eyes on the prize, hold on

Study

The Bible is not a very safe space for sons. And the books of Kings and Chronicles are an especially treacherous zone.

The murder of Zechariah is just the latest (and not the last) to befall sons who remain faithful to the Word of God. Although the Spirit of God was upon him, even that was not enough to save Zechariah (or St. Stephen or John the Baptist or Jesus of Nazareth).

While they can kill the messenger and return to their evil ways, they can not kill the Message. The people would not listen to his warnings.  They forsook the temple of the LORD and began (again) to serve the sacred poles and the idols.  Just yesterday, the people had turned against Baal.  Now, the pendulum swings back in the other direction.

If we are to seek God first, we have to keep our eyes on that prize.  We can not give in to temptation.

Action

What pulls your eyes from the prize?  Sometimes, in our dogged pursuit of seeking God first, we don’t let anything get in the way.  Not even obstacles that others might give in to.  Consider this anecdote that the Maryknoll Missioners posted yesterday.