Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 18, 2016 - Saturday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Chr 24:17-25 and Matt 6:24-34]SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016. SATURDAY IN THE ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME [2 Chronicles 24:17-25 and Matthew 6:24-34] "Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil." [Matthew] The Lord's words about worry in today's gospel can strike a chord in many a heart. There are many things we can worry about. Jesus' audience was mostly folks who were subsistence farmers and lived "on the edge." If their crop failed, they faced starvation! If the fish were not abundant, famine would be at the door. Right now, many people in the Middle East do not know where their next meal is coming from because of the wars and violence. Many people in Africa face famine from year to year because of crop failure due to weather or pest infestation. They have much to worry about. In our own land, blessed as it is with abundance, there are people who go hungry or without shelter. They have much to worry about in an effort to survive. Keeping all of this in perspective is difficult for those of us who have a sufficiency of food, clothing, and shelter. Yet the Lord challenges all to put their trust in God first. That trust can be rewarded when those who have enough realize their duty to share and not hoard. When we can make our planet and our country a place where all can eat and live (and we CAN do this right now if enough of the right hearts can be changed) we will have fulfilled the Lord's words about worry because we will have removed the cause. AMEN