Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, February 20, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
It really is that simple. Most of us have way more than we need. Right now, I have three coats, two of which are hand-me-downs from my mom, one of which she bought me last year so that I could continue my newfound exercise routine of almost daily walks even when the Minnesota winter days are bitterly cold (this year she bought me boots, too). I don’t need three coats. Full stop. So, next time I’m out and about, I’m going to take one of them to Goodwill.
Where food is concerned, I tend not to have excess. I buy what I eat and I eat what I buy. I waste almost nothing. But I’ve known people with disorganized kitchen cupboards who continue to buy things they already have because they have so much they can’t see what’s there anymore. Most of that can probably be given away without it even registering.
These are very simple things, of course, which in and of themselves would not solve our world’s problems, even if every single person did them. Instead, I see them as spiritually symbolic. We live in a society of excess, where we measure our success by the amount of money and stuff we have. If we are to be truly repentant, and work for God’s justice in the world, we need to take a hard look at what we have, recognize where we have more—usually way more—than we need, and work to right the balance so that everyone has enough.
Notice that John isn’t saying, “Whoever has two coats needs to give them both away.” God doesn’t want us to impoverish ourselves. God knows, and tells us over and over again, that there is enough for everyone. More than enough for everyone to flourish. Today, I would encourage you to just take a quick inventory of what things you have that you actually need, and consider how downsizing your life could be a spiritual practice.
How do my patterns of purchasing/consumption impact my community and the greater world? What changes can I make?
