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“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
Father Matta El-Meskeen (Matthew the Poor)
EOPLE’S INTERESTS ARE MANY, and providing and blessing them is
the focus of their petitions before God.
So it is also with God. His interests are many and multiplied, and with
persistence he requests first what concerns him. God requests, and demands, that
man first and above all else seek his Kingdom and his approval. Then after what
concerns the Kingdom of God we can seek what concerns us.
This is why God demands, before all else, that man’s first interest, effort and
pursuit be the Kingdom of God. The amazing thing is that God pledges in return
to take an interest in the other desires of man. It is an extremely profitable deal
for man! But it is, using the same expression, an even more profitable deal for
God, because God seeks the fullness of his Kingdom. Christ himself tells the
story of the wealthy man who made a feast for his friends.1 He sent his servants
and assistants to invite the people to come to the feast, but when they returned
from giving out the invitations they told the host that there were still many empty
places remaining at the feast. So he said to them, ‘Go out into the squares, that is,
to the undeserving and unknown, and invite them to come so that my house will
be full.’
Look and be aware, dear readers, that God demands his Kingdom be filled.
The strange thing, the wonder of wonders, is that he disregards human
worthiness. The lowly, poor, naked, lame, those with hands and feet cut off are
invited with exactly the same status as chiefs and gentlemen! God does not show
any favor or interest according to dress, bodily skill, shape or appearance in his
choice of those he invites to his Kingdom.
This is a true story from the mouth of Christ himself!!! Lift up your head,
precious reader, and do not look at any shortcoming on your part, be it in
appearance or position. Christ’s desire is focused on getting you into his
Kingdom, and he is prepared to overlook any lack or flaw in you. He is able to
make your body a new creation with perfect health. He is capable of making up
for any shortcoming in your behavior and morals. So do not worry about what
you lack, rather, let your first class interest be to seek God’s Kingdom and his
righteousness.
The righteousness of God is able to cover man completely with glory and
majesty, so do not look to the lowness of your birth or position because God is
able to lift you to the height of his angels. Come, come, come, and don’t look
even for an instant at your own worthiness, because once you have been
accepted in the justice of God it will make you competent with the capability of
cherubim and seraphim. The incredible thing is that God does not command us
to do anything to qualify us for his Kingdom. He only urges us to seek first his
Kingdom and his righteousness before all else, and truly he is able to lift us to
the proper level worthy of his Kingdom.
July 21, 2005
1 Lk 14:16-23.
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