Devotion 

Consider the Lilies

Frances Taylor 

The first time I saw Sidney Poitier in a movie was in "The Lilies of the Field" for which he won an Oscar for best actor. The movie had a couple of important lessons and every time I read today's gospel passage I am reminded of both the movie and the lessons. A group of sisters want to build a chapel and they don't have the means to do it but believe that if they pray hard enough, the Lord will provide the means and men to do the work. Sidney needs a place to stay and the Superior sees her man. He stays on and works to build the chapel. Okay, you know there must be a twist! He tries to do it alone and fails. Eventually he must ask for help and the chapel is built.

Today we are being told not to worry about the needs of tomorrow but to concentrate on the "now." But what kind of "now" are we supposed to concentrate on? Not, we are told, on what we are to eat and drink, but to seek first the kingdom of God and then God will provide everything else that we truly need just as he feeds the earth to bring forth the flowers and cares for the birds of the air. The second lesson from the movie is that we all need help at times. Sometimes we need to ask for help, and sometimes we need to be help for others. It is often through his people that God provides for our needs. If we are truly seeking God's kingdom we will be ready both to ask for help and to offer it. As we continue this season of Lent. Let us reflect on the ways in which we will work to bring the kingdom to others through our prayers, fasting and almsgiving so that our celebration of Easter might be even more glorious.

Prayer 

Yes, Lord. I know that you know us and you know what we need even more than we know ourselves. Give us the grace to put you and the kingdom first in our lives trusting in your goodness and mercy to provide for us. Amen.