Seeking First

It will come as no surprise to readers to learn that the name of our blog is an allusion to the words of Christ in Matthew, chapter 6: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (v.33)

Scholars debate how best to understand the meaning of 'kingdom' in the teachings of Christ, but for us, one thing is absolutely certain: Whether that kingdom is of the earth or of the heart, now or at the end of times, the sign of that kingdom is Love.

For the Community Catholic Church, then, it is Love we seek first. We find Love in Creator, who is Love itself. We find Love in the center of Christ's teachings. Love is our destination, as union with God/Love, but it is also our path - the means by which we express and experience that union most deeply. So seeking to unite to divine Love and to express that Love is, for us, seeking the Kingdom of which Jesus speaks.

We humans like to exercise our cognitive function. We like to make things more complicated than they are, to focus on a single aspect of a matter and lose the sense of its place in the whole. Creator, however, is different. Creator makes things simple.

Jesus was clear. When asked which was the greatest commandment, he gave us two: Love God with all your heart, your soul, your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Three thousand years later, we're still trying to figure out what he meant by that. Maybe, just maybe, he meant what he said: Love God completely and love others as you love yourself.

Our understanding is that, whatever the scholars may or may not believe Jesus said or didn't say, the core of Christ's teaching is love. Following those two commandments is the work of a lifetime, particularly in a world where life and love are both cheapened by power and greed.

So, when you read 'Seeking First' each day, we ask you to strive with us to do just that, to seek first how to love through the challenges of our daily life. It seems like such a simple goal, and so easy to offer lipserice to it and stop there. But Christ invites us to commit more fully to creating a kingdom of love in our hearts, our lives, and our communities.

And so, to that end...Seeking First.

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Join us in praying for Louisiana and Mississippi as recovery recovery from the ravages of Isaac begins, particularly for the workers trying to stabilize the Percy Quin dam, and the Philippines dealing with the earthquake aftermath.

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