RBWords

  In my undergrad days, oh so many years ago (1960-64), MAD MAGAZINE was all the rage.  Its iconic cartoon figure was a guy named Alfred E. Neuman and he was featured with a goofy smile and the words, "What? Me? Worry?"  I'm sure I have mentioned him before, but he comes to mind every time I read the above passage from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.  And yes, despite his goofy unworried face, I still did worry!  I remember that worry when I hear the worries of my student friends here at Texas Tech!  Somehow one's whole future can seem wrapped in one project or one test, despite the certainty that there will be more projects and more tests to come.  I don't blame them but I do try to assure them from my own experience that their world will not come to an end with this one exam or one lost relationship!  They will continue to excel and continue to love no matter how worried they are today!  I think this is the kind of encouragement that Jesus is trying to offer in today's gospel!

     I have often said to students and others, "If you are a person of faith, then put your faith to work for you!"  Jesus says: "If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the over tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?"  Worrying about "tomorrow"  is something I did a lot of at one time (and not so long ago).  But for those who can reasonably expect a lot more "tomorrows" than I can at my age (78), this worry is an ever present challenge.  Some like Little Orphan Annie look forward to "tomorrow!" (a great song).  Others dread it.  If we can put our feet on the floor each morning and say to God, "Nothing can happen today that you and I can't handle together!" then tomorrow will carry that same promise.  AMEN