12-July-26 (Matthew 13:1-9, 16-2)

Sometimes we treat that soil where "the cares and concerns of the world" don't allow the seed to be nurtured in the way it should be with a bit of distain. This is true even though we recognize times when the cares and concerns of this world occupy our own minds.
How much more understandable, then, would it be to realize that people who are struggling to put food on the table, find a safe place to live, dealing with illness or impending end of life, might be occupied in ways that make considering their lives of faith difficult.
While we can encourage ourselves to focus on the Realm of God, we can also help as we can to deal with those immediate concerns so that people will be freed to consider life beyond the simple day-to-day struggle.
We do this in many ways and one of those is through the financial resources given to the Church for the work it does.
Consider giving generously, so that people can receive help for those immediate needs and concerns.

Prayer:

Please join me in a spirit of prayer.
God of all people, who speaks to us in a world of cares and concerns. Help us to be generous with our resources, so that people will not need to struggle, just for the basic needs and concerns of life.
Bless these gifts, returned to you, that they would be used in ways that bring your Realm closer to all people.
We pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.