Worried about your life? Look at the ravens and lilies.

The Rev. Kathi Johnson

Lectionary 19, Year C – 7 August 2016

Texts: Luke 12:22-34 and Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Grand Prairie, Texas

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Yesterday morning, I went outside to get some work done before the heat of the day set in. I’ve been putting off some of this work, so some of our container plants were looking pretty scraggly. One by one, I went over each plant, deadheading the spent flowers and removing the dead leaves.

I got to one plant – I can’t remember what it’s called and it’s a new one for me this year. I really thought this plant was done for, but I cut away a couple of dead blooms and peeled off the dead leaves, and then I plucked out a weed that had sprung up in the pot. As I worked, I was thrilled to discover plenty of new growth underneath all those dead leaves. When I finished, the plant looked healthy and strong, so I gave it a good drink of water and moved on to work on the next plant.

As I worked on my plants, I realized that some of my life as a person of faith involves a similar process: peeling away that which is dead, that which no longer gives any life, that which is no longer healthy – and when I am done with all that, I am left with a stronger faith, a faith which is deeper because it is rooted in the very love of Jesus Christ.

At first glance of today’s gospel lesson, Jesus is telling us to do something that seems impossible: “Do not worry about your life.”

OK, Jesus, you got it. I won’t worry. I’ll give up worrying.

But then I start thinking about family members or friends or parishioners who are ill, and I worry. I start thinking about my to-do lists, and I worry. I start thinking about finances or time or Steve falling off a ladder or the dogs eating something ridiculous – and I worry. Then, I remember that Jesus told us not to worry, and I stop worrying for a while. And then…

It’s a cycle. And as long as I’m caught up in this cycle of worry/not worry, I’m not focused on work I need to do, whether here or at home. I’m not focused on those I love. And I’m certainly not focused on God or God’s love for me or sharing that love with others.

And the leaves begin to wither and die, and then I remember again what Jesus said about worry. I peel off the dead leaves of my life so that – once again – I can grow in faith and develop even deeper roots.

Because I really think that what Jesus is talking about is choosing our focus more carefully. Worried about your life? he says – well, take a look at the ravens. They don’t sow or reap – they don’t produce any food of their own, and they don’t store anything up for the future. They simply land on the ground and eat what is there, and – watch! God provides for them.

Worried about your life? Jesus says – well, take a look at the lilies. They don’t do any work whatsoever, but look at how God clothes them in beauty.

The nations of the earth, Jesus says, focus too much on what we eat or drink and what we wear. We are called to something else. We are called to focus instead upon all the ways that God provides – and not only how God provides for me and my family or my friends or even just for humanity. Look at how God provides for the lilies! Look at how God provides for the ravens! (Did you know that the ancients despised ravens, kind of like some people now despise grackles? So think about that – God provides for creation – even the parts of creation that we despise!)

If lilies and ravens aren’t your thing, then turn to Hebrews 11. We heard part of it read today as our New Testament lesson – but the whole chapter focuses on the faith of the people of God throughout history. Worried about your life? Remember that many other people of faith have struggled on – and they probably worried from time to time. But, remember, too, that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. God provided for them, and God will provide for you, too. It may not happen in expected or easy ways, but God will provide for you, too.

British statesman Sir John Lubbock once said, “A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.” When we are worried, we are not focused on our work, or our families and friends, let alone God or God’s love for us, or sharing that love with others.

Worried about your life? Remember the work that God has given us to do. What is this work? The prophet Micah says it well: “God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you - but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

When we are constantly living in fear, constantly living in worry – how on earth can we be concerned about justice or kindness or humility? Fear and worry throw justice and kindness and humility out the window. And if there was ever a time in history in which we need to be focused on the things of God: focused on justice and kindness and humility – this is the time.

I made a little gift for us – bookmarks seen in picture above.

This gift is for your bathroom mirror or refrigerator or wherever you’ll see it and remember that worrying does no good. When you are worried, consider the ravens and the lilies and – most importantly – consider the ways that God takes care of them. And consider that if God takes care of birds and flowers, God will most certainly take care of you.

But God does not take care of us for just our own sakes, but for the sake of the world, so that we may do justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with our God.

Amen.

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