November 18, 2018
First Presbyterian Church, Sterling, IL
Christina Berry
Our scripture reading today comes from the sixth chapter of Matthew. The reading comes from the middle of what is often called “The Sermon on the Mount,” Matthew’s collection of Jesus sayings that explicates for us the heart of the good news. In that collection of sayings, we have the beatitudes.
Writer and theologian Matthew Boring says “The beatitudes are written in unconditional performative language. They do not merely describe something that already is, but bring into being the reality they declare.”[1]
In everyday terms, “performative language” is words that make something happen, like when you say “I do” at the wedding. So this entire section of Matthew is making something happen, and it is something new and different, something that has not happened before.
Jesus goes on to teach about the law of love, an ethical commandment that shifts the old ways of being. “You have heard it said…” he begins, “But I say to you…”
No longer do we give an eye for an eye – now we turn the other cheek.
In everyday terms, “performative language” is words that make something happen, like when you say “I do” at the wedding. So this entire section of Matthew is making something happen, and it is something new and different, something that has not happened before.
Jesus goes on to teach about the law of love, an ethical commandment that shifts the old ways of being. “You have heard it said…” he begins, “But I say to you…”
No longer do we give an eye for an eye – now we turn the other cheek.
Another important thing to remember about this scripture is that it is true because Jesus is saying it!
Jesus is not pointing out something that everybody already knew, or truths that others had overlooked, or wisdom that could be described by anyone who thought about. Jesus is describing a new way of being that is only possible because of his way of being.
Let’s learn about this new way of being, the witness of trusting in God’s provision, as we listen to God’s word in Matthew 6:25-33.
"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.
Jesus is not pointing out something that everybody already knew, or truths that others had overlooked, or wisdom that could be described by anyone who thought about. Jesus is describing a new way of being that is only possible because of his way of being.
Let’s learn about this new way of being, the witness of trusting in God’s provision, as we listen to God’s word in Matthew 6:25-33.
"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.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
I can’t ever read this text without thinking of the 1963 movie starring Sidney Poitier.
Do you remember seeing “The Lilies of the Field”?
It’s a sweet, simple story about Homer Smith, played by Poitier, who is traveling through Arizona’ and stops to get some water to put in his car radiator. He comes across a group of nuns who are putting up a fence, and not doing a very good job of it. The nuns are German, Austrian, and Hungarian, refugees from the war. They speak only a few words of English, they know little of farming, but they are trying to establish a community.
The mother superior persuades Homer to do a small roof repair. He helps out and stays overnight, hoping to be paid in the morning. When it appears that he won’t be paid, Smith quotes scripture to the nuns: "The laborer is worthy of his hire."
Thanks be to God.
I can’t ever read this text without thinking of the 1963 movie starring Sidney Poitier.
Do you remember seeing “The Lilies of the Field”?
It’s a sweet, simple story about Homer Smith, played by Poitier, who is traveling through Arizona’ and stops to get some water to put in his car radiator. He comes across a group of nuns who are putting up a fence, and not doing a very good job of it. The nuns are German, Austrian, and Hungarian, refugees from the war. They speak only a few words of English, they know little of farming, but they are trying to establish a community.
The mother superior persuades Homer to do a small roof repair. He helps out and stays overnight, hoping to be paid in the morning. When it appears that he won’t be paid, Smith quotes scripture to the nuns: "The laborer is worthy of his hire."
Mother Superior replies by asking him to read Matthew 6: 28:
"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”
The nuns have no money.
They live by what they can raise and grow on their small farm.
Homer Smith stays, first in hope that they will eventually pay him,
and then in the conviction that God has called him
to help the nuns build a chapel.
While he is there, he also teaches them English.
“Lilies of the Field” is a film that is even more memorable
because it includes that great Jester Hairston song: “Amen!”
Jester Hairston's "Amen"
because it includes that great Jester Hairston song: “Amen!”
Jester Hairston's "Amen"
It’s heartwarming, and sweet, and altogether unrealistic.
Well, it is, isn’t it?
Seriously, Jesus? the birds and the lilies?
God will provide for all our needs?
Hmph.
It’s easy to dismiss this teaching of Jesus.
It’s much easier to convince ourselves that we are in control,
and that we need to take care of ourselves,
and that our worrying about material things is actually effective.
We have to worry, right?
Of course we don’t. We don’t have to worry.
But we do worry.
We worry about all sorts of things,
unlike the lilies who seem blithely unaware
that the world is going to hell in a handbasket!
I checked with all the gardeners who were at Bible Study on Wednesday,
and they assured me that the lilies are not worried.
They just grow, and look beautiful.
Stupid lilies.
Listen, Jesus. I have important stuff to worry about.
I need to have enough money set aside to provide for my retirement.
I can’t just go around sharing my resources.
Let someone else do that.
I had this talk with Jesus once, but he wasn’t persuaded.
He said “can you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?”
Well, no….
But Jesus, I need to take care of myself.
Are you saying I need to quit my job and wait for you to take care of me?
Jesus is shaking his head.
My evasions are not working.
My worry is not helping.
All of us who are sowing, reaping, storing in barns, toiling, and spinning
are not being told to stop working or putting out an effort.
The challenge to trust in God's providence
and to see that our life is not based on these things.
We are not called to become birds or lilies,
but to consider God's providence for all creation,
including birds, lilies, and human beings.
The command to seek first the kingdom is not intended chronologically,
as though we are free to pursue material goods after seeking the kingdom.
We are to seek God's kingdom above all else.
The disciple can have only one priority: God's kingdom or will.[2]
Everything else is secondary.
So here are some things to consider,
as you consider your pledge and your giving to the church for next year.
Consider who taught you to trust in God.
Consider their faith in God’s provision.
Consider your priorities: What is most important to you?
Consider your life: how does your life demonstrate your faith?
Consider how God has blessed you and provided for you.
Consider how God is calling you to support the ministries of this church.
Consider the lilies of the field.
Of course we don’t. We don’t have to worry.
But we do worry.
We worry about all sorts of things,
unlike the lilies who seem blithely unaware
that the world is going to hell in a handbasket!
I checked with all the gardeners who were at Bible Study on Wednesday,
and they assured me that the lilies are not worried.
They just grow, and look beautiful.
Stupid lilies.
Listen, Jesus. I have important stuff to worry about.
I need to have enough money set aside to provide for my retirement.
I can’t just go around sharing my resources.
Let someone else do that.
I had this talk with Jesus once, but he wasn’t persuaded.
He said “can you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?”
Well, no….
But Jesus, I need to take care of myself.
Are you saying I need to quit my job and wait for you to take care of me?
Jesus is shaking his head.
My evasions are not working.
My worry is not helping.
All of us who are sowing, reaping, storing in barns, toiling, and spinning
are not being told to stop working or putting out an effort.
The challenge to trust in God's providence
and to see that our life is not based on these things.
We are not called to become birds or lilies,
but to consider God's providence for all creation,
including birds, lilies, and human beings.
The command to seek first the kingdom is not intended chronologically,
as though we are free to pursue material goods after seeking the kingdom.
We are to seek God's kingdom above all else.
The disciple can have only one priority: God's kingdom or will.[2]
Everything else is secondary.
So here are some things to consider,
as you consider your pledge and your giving to the church for next year.
Consider who taught you to trust in God.
Consider their faith in God’s provision.
Consider your priorities: What is most important to you?
Consider your life: how does your life demonstrate your faith?
Consider how God has blessed you and provided for you.
Consider how God is calling you to support the ministries of this church.
Consider the lilies of the field.
At the end of the movie, “The Lilies of the Field,”
Homer Smith is teaching the nuns a final English lesson.
Homer Smith is teaching the nuns a final English lesson.
Homer Smith: [the final English lesson] Oh, *I* built a chapel...
All of the sisters: *I* built a chapel.
Homer Smith: *You* built a chapel...
All of the sisters: *You* built a chapel.
Homer Smith: *We" built a chapel...
Mother Maria: [points to heaven] *He* built a chapel.
Homer Smith: [pause, then] Amen.
Consider that.
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