Both of our readings show us that the Christian has a radically different point of view from the non-Christian, the pagan, the world, the flesh.
Gal 6:11-end
Just as our Gospel reading warns us that we cannot serve 2 masters, God and Money, the Epistle challenges us: will we choose God or “a fair show in the flesh”, popularity, conformity, acceptance and ease?
Are we willing to face persecution for the sake of the cross of Christ?
Will we say with Paul, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”?
It’s amazing to boast or glory in the cross, which was, after all, an instrument of brutal execution.
On the face of it, nothing could be more shameful and less glorious than a cross.
But the cross is the true means to life and glory: it is our guarantee that we are loved and forgiven.
Paul has undergone a death and resurrection with Christ, so that now he has a whole new way of looking at the cross, the world and himself.
“By the cross of Jesus, the world was crucified to me and I to the world”, he says.
The world is dead to Paul, and Paul to the world – that’s how radically removed Paul is from the world and its concerns, loves and so-called glories.
How foolish, then, if we continue to be caught up with worldly concerns – all that should be dead and gone.
Some things which others think matter a great deal (circumcision, in our passage) don’t matter at all to the Christian in his right mind.
What matters is the New Creature – God’s transforming life-giving work in us.
As we come to the Lord’s table, let us glory in the cross.
Let us celebrate Christ’s victory and thank him for his sacrifice.
Mt 6:24-end
Like the Epistle, the gospel reading should put an end to all false boasting.
In this meal, we look to the Lord, our heavenly Father, who knows our needs, to feed us because of his undeserved love for us.
We express our trust in him.
We recognise our total dependence on him.
We pledge ourselves anew to serve God alone as our master, loving him.
We commit ourselves to seeking first his Kingdom and his righteousness, knowing that we have no righteousness of our own.
Our Father gives us our daily bread.
We might even say he gives us the bread of tomorrow today, for in this meal he promises to feed us.
Here and now this meal is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.
If we eat here in faith, we can be sure we will be at that glorious Wedding Supper of the Lamb.
Our Father has provided for our Tomorrow and no amount of anxious worrying on our part can do that.
God will take care of it!
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