Finnish Lutheran Church in Ball

Pastor Timo’s sermon, May 25, 2008

2nd Day of Pentecost, Mother’s Day Sermon, Matthew 6:24-34 Translated by Katja Kupari

There are three different kinds or grieves; grief of yesterday, of today and of tomorrow. The past can become a burden in two ways; feeling guilty about things that have happened or longing for the past – ’things aren’t what they used to be’.

It is hard to feel guilty about what is going to happen in the future, but very easy to stress about it. Depending on where you are in life, tomorrow’s burning question may be; how will my child do in school?, where will I find employment?, where will I find a spouse?, will I remain healthy?, who will pay my pension?, what is going to happen to my loved ones? The list of future worries is endless.

It’s been said that the sum of worries is constant. Relatively speaking, that is often the case. When the bigger problems have been solved; getting a clean bill of health from the doctor, paying the college tuition for the children and paying off the mortgage that’s become a dear friend by now – that’s when you’ll have to worry about other things, things that were small compared to the ones that you were dealing with. And it is easier to come up with smaller worries. Topics include worrying about the future weather, undone yardwork, your own appearance or car maintenance.

Someone may also worry about not finding a reason to worry and feels that it is merely ’calm before the storm’.

Without making light of anybody’s experiences about what we worry about, I do think that many of us has realized that we’ve overreacted, ’made a mountain out of a mole hill’ – by worrying about things that never happened or even if they did, ended up not being very significant.

On the other hand you can think that worrying is a good thing. If nobody worried about anything, things would fall apart. If you don’t know how to expect the worst, you may not know how to react in the actual situation. Finns have been called a caring nation. This is probably caused by geographic, historical as well as climatic facts. Long, cold winters and bigger neighbors have a funny way of making you always fear the worst. Success can be achieved through something like that as well as through other experiences in life. If you have a demanding boss, difficult mother-in-law and co-employees that are hard to get along with, being under pressure may lead to great results, and it may build character and help you endure bigger tornados and storms in life. Though it’s been said that creative people do create their best work in an environment that is encouraging instead of discouraging.

But the thing about worrying is that we would hardly remember to do everything if we didn’t worry about them at all before hand. Thus, as we know very well; everything in moderation.

And Jesus does not deny or belittle people’s worries either. In fact He says what we all know to be true from experience; ”Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34). Instead Jesus teaches that by doing simple math one can cut the amount of worrying by two thirds. According to Jesus worrying about both the past and the future issues is a waste of time. Because if God is willing to forgive and forget our past sins, then why should we rehash them or wallow in self pity. As a simple remedy for worrying God’s word offers faith. If the past is weighing you down, have faith in forgiveness. If the future is causing you stress, trust Him to lead you in the future as well. Like Scriptures says: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

The examples of a carefree way of live in today’s gospel comes from creation. The birds in the sky live one day at a time and do not worries about which bank would yield the best interest on their food stock. The flowers in the meadow bloom into gorgeous colours without going to the newest beauty salon or running from one sale to another. The message is clear. God is looking down from heaven and taking care of His children.

Somebody has called the lifestyle Jesus launched ”holy casualness”. Living this lifestyle people have to worry about today’s issues, but God has promised to take care of their needs and future. What people should especially worry about when living ”holy casualness” is what you have in you heart.

It is then all about priorities, what or who is the center of my universe? If the core is well, the outer areas will also be well. If there’s a strong current in the main river, there’s enough water for the tributaries too.

Today’s gospel begins at the core: 24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24).

Jesus’s words about what is important in life, mastery, lead us to make a choice. The principles in God’s Kingdom are different from the world that doesn’t want to hear God’s voice. And when we read the gospel with deep thought it puts us in a tight spot. Surely many of us are in the same boat in this regard. Wealth, power and money make us worry. Money can be a good servant at its best, but as a master it is unreasonable and insatiable. It has made many people desperate and caused many arguments between family members. It is sad to see a poor person begging, but it is perhaps even sadder to see the dissatisfaction of the rich when nothing is ever sufficient and enough is still not enough.

Jesus wanted to free the people of His times as well as our times from all of this.

You heard right; to free! For Jesus does not eliminate our everyday material needs, but He says: your heavenly Father knows that you need them” But Jesus continues : “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt 6:33)

We’re used to saying that “things will work out”. God, who is the creator and giver of all good wants to take care of the needs of His people. He has promised us to give us all that we need and even more:”how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Mt 7:11)

But God wants to give us more that what you get from running after money. He wants to give us peace and joy that lasts. He has already given His own son so that we would have an eternal connection with our Heavenly Father, the giver of all good.

Could we also look at this issue more from this point of view. Trust that God Himself has assured that tomorrow has in store everything we need, help with our worries, wings for our dreams - as long as the core of our lives is well.

Saarnat Suomeksi	Previous Sermons in English


Toukok. 11, 2008	May 11, 2008
Huhtik.27, 2008	April 27, 2008
*Maalisk. 30, 2008*	Mar. 30, 2008
Maalisk. 23, 2008	Mar. 23, 2008
Maalisk. 09, 2008	Mar.09, 2008
	Feb.10, 2008
	Jan.27.2008
	Jan 13,2008 Baptism of Our Lord