Centre

Jesus does not respond to our worry-filled way of living by saying that we should not be so busy with worldly affairs. He does not try to pull us away from the many events, activities and people that make up our lives. He does not tell us that what we do is unimportant, valueless or useless. Nor does He suggest that we should withdraw from our involvements and live quiet, restful lives removed from the struggles of the world,

Jesus’ response to our worry-filled lives is quite different. He asks us to shift the point of gravity, to relocate the centre of our attention, to change our priorities. Jesus wants us to move from the ‘many things’ to the ‘one necessary thing’. It is important for us to realise that Jesus in no way wants us to leave our many-faceted world. Rather, He wants us to live in it, but firmly rooted in the centre of all things. Jesus does not speak about a change of activities, a change in contacts, or even a change of pace. He speaks about a change of heart. This change of heart makes everything different, even while everything appears to remain the same. This is the meaning of ‘Set your hearts on his kingdom first… and all these things will be given you as well’. What counts is where our hearts are. When we worry, we have our hearts in the wrong place. Jesus asks us to move our hearts to the centre, where all other things fall into place.

What is the centre? Jesus calls it the kingdom, the kingdom of His Father… Only when we understand Jesus’ words as an urgent call to make the life of God’s Spirit our priority can we see better what is at stake. A heart set on the Father’s kingdom is also a heart set on the spiritual life. To set our hearts on the kingdom therefore means to make the life of the Spirit within and among us the centre of all we think, say, or do.

- Henri Nouwen, from 'Making All Things New'