Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
1 Cor 4:1-5
Mt 6:24-34
Today’s readings address one of the most common struggles of the human experience: Worry. From the ancient Israelites feeling abandoned to the modern person stressed about finances, the message is clear: peace is found not in controlling the future, but in trusting the One who holds it.
In Isaiah, we hear a stunning comparison. God asks, "Can a mother forget her infant?" While almost unthinkable, God says that even if human love fails, His love is absolute: "I will never forget you!" When you feel invisible or overwhelmed, remember that you are "tattooed" on the palm of God’s hand. Your security isn't based on your circumstances, but on God's memory of you.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus delivers a hard truth: You cannot serve both God and "Mammon" (wealth/materialism). Worry often stems from trying to serve two masters. We want God’s peace, but we seek our security in our bank accounts, our status, or our possessions.
Material things are tools to be used, not gods to be served. When we prioritize the "Kingdom of God" (God's way of doing things), the rest of our lives begin to fall into perspective.
Jesus uses nature to show how illogical anxiety is. Birds work hard; they build nests and find food, but they don’t "worry." They exist in a state of natural trust. Jesus also points out the practical uselessness of anxiety: Can you add a single inch to your height by worrying? Modern science confirms what Jesus taught 2,000 years ago: chronic worry is destructive to our physical and mental health. It is a "pagan" attitude because it acts as if we have no Father looking out for us.
How do we stop worrying? The readings and tradition suggest a three-step rhythm for the day: • Morning - Don't check your phone first. Instead, start with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Dedicate the next 15 hours to Him before the "noise" of the world gets in.
• Mid-Day - St. Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing." You don’t need a chapel for this. Use "breath prayers" or "red-light prayers" during your commute or between meetings: "Lord, I trust you." "Help me see you in this person." "Peace, be still."
• Evening - Before sleep, thank God for the wins, ask for forgiveness for the fails, and then, hand the world back to Him. You cannot solve tomorrow’s problems tonight.
Worry is interest paid on a debt you may never owe. Jesus invites us to "seek first the Kingdom." When we make God’s will our primary focus, we will find that He is already taking care of everything else.