Sermon for the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity, 2025

Jesus trusted His Father in—and for—all things. Beloved, He bids you to do the same, for God Himself, in the Person of His Son, calls you back to Himself, saying to you, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” If you want to know how to get from point A of worry to point B of contentment, this is how. And it can be done, at least sometimes. Do you think Abraham, when he took his son, Isaac, up the mountain and bound him and laid him on the altar, fully prepared to carry out the command of God, “sacrifice your only son,” do you think he was worried? It doesn’t read that way. Or, what about David, when he went out to battle the giant, Goliath, alone, with just a slingshot and five small stones, do you think he was worried? It doesn’t read that way. Or, again, what about Elijah, when the widow was at the bottom of both her jar of flour and jug of oil and was preparing to eat the last of it and die, do you think he was worried? It doesn’t read that way. “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make some cakes for me first, and then for yourself.” And the jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, and there was plenty. There are instances throughout the Holy Scriptures of people who gained this sense of contentment. As St. Paul says, “I have learned the secret of being content.” It can be gained, although no doubt imperfectly. While there will be less-than-desirable moments in your life, even so, there can be a discovery among God’s people of the key to contentment and the gaining of this comportment—this mindset—in the face of all kinds of unimaginable trouble. And here it is: seek the kingdom of God, and His righteousness. Do that. Seek it. Look for it, try to uncover it; find it. And His righteousness, which is Christ. 

Readings:

• Old Testament: 1 Kings 17:8-16

• Epistle: Galatians 5:25–6:10

• Holy Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

Sermon: