Many people have asked me this question, and I understand why. When Jesus tells us in the Gospel, “Seek first the Kingdom of God”, it can sound both beautiful and overwhelming. We long to follow His words, yet we wonder what it looks like in our daily lives—our families, our work, our struggles. Asking this question already shows a heart that wants to walk more closely with God.
When Jesus speaks these words in Matthew 6, He is inviting us into a life of trust. He says this right after reminding us not to be anxious about tomorrow. The Kingdom of God is not a distant place; it is God’s loving presence reigning in our hearts. To seek it first means to let God be the center of our decisions, our desires, and our hope. It means believing that when we place our lives in His hands, He takes care of what we fear we must control.
The Church teaches that the Kingdom begins wherever Christ is welcomed. So seeking it first means choosing His way in the ordinary moments—patience instead of anger, forgiveness instead of holding on, truth instead of convenience. It is letting God shape who we are becoming. When we pray, reflect on Scripture, or receive the sacraments, we are allowing His Kingdom to grow quietly within us, like that mustard seed Jesus once described.
And in our daily life, this teaching becomes very practical. We seek the Kingdom when we begin the morning with a simple prayer, when we put love before success, when we trust God in uncertainty, and when we try to see others with the eyes of Christ. Little by little, this way of living frees our hearts from fear and helps us discover that God’s grace is enough. When we seek Him first, everything else finds its rightful place.
Reflection
May our hearts learn to rest in God’s care, trusting that when we seek His Kingdom above all, He gently provides for all our needs. May His peace guide every step we take today.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
