8 February – The Second Sunday before Lent, Matthew 6.25–34
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘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? 26Look 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? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But 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? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?”
32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’
In the run up to Racial Justice Sunday on 8 February, West Midlands Racial Justice Initiative are pleased to share a list of sermon themes, along with prayer and liturgy points, that you can use. These are based on the lectionary readings for that day. Please visit our website under ‘Resources and Publications’ or use this link for direct access: bit.ly/RJSLectionaryThemes
Things to think about with the child at the centre:
Activities
Art and crafts of birds and flowers (try these:
Super Easy! Origami Bird (Level: 3 year old+)Handprint Lilies | How to Make an Easy Paper Lily)
Response
Sometimes I like to imagine what it was like to be one of Jesus’ first disciples. I think it must have been pretty fun a lot of the time. It was probably really exciting. Can you imagine seeing Jesus heal someone who was blind, or who couldn’t walk? And it must have been wonderful to just hang around with Jesus.
But I also imagine it was hard sometimes.Those first disciples must have gotten anxious and worried, wandering around with no home to call their own.
The Gospel shows us what Jesus said to his friends about being worried.
I wonder if it’s hard to work on your problems and not worry, like the birds that seem happy gathering food?
I wonder if you’ve ever found yourself worrying about things in your life?
I wonder if it helped Peter to hear about God taking care of birds and flowers?
Prayer
Take one of the flowers or birds you have been making, imagine how beautiful and majestic real birds and flowers are to us. Imagine that God feels the same way when God looks at us too.
Spend some time on “Chat and Catch” prayers focusing on the things that make us anxious, and the things that bring us joy.
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