Word to the Wise
Saturday, June 21, 2014 - Saturday in the 11th Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Chr 24:17-25 and Matt 6:24-34]Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing......Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
JUNE 21 ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, s.j.
I confess that I worry about "tomorrow." I understand the power of Jesus' words in today's beautiful and lyrical passage. I have read the words about living one day at a time from folks in 12 step programs. But I also remember the wonderful song from the Broadway musical, "Annie,": "Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow! It's only a day away." Why isn't my calendar full?
Worrying about "tomorrow" is a luxury when one has no idea how one will have food, clothing or shelter TODAY. Jesus' admonition about relying on God to provide these things if only we put our complete trust in God is different for someone who faces daily starvation or death from exposure to the elements. I do not face those problems. I can only look at the pictures in the news and wonder what I would do if I were in a similar situation.
What I can do is try to live more simply and live one day at a time without worrying what I will be doing next January or during Lent 2015! [Four parish missions!] I can try not to give "tomorrow" as big a place in my plans! These are small steps but they can loom large in my own world. I also can continue to pray for those who face much greater challenges in other parts of our world. AMEN