EIGHTH SUNDAY OF YEAR "A"

Sunday 8^th. Of Year "A"

“Have no Worry”

Jesus grew up in Nazareth. Apart from helping his foster father Joseph at his trade, he must direly have helped sowing and harvesting the wheat. He also must have noticed the birds pecking at the ears of corn, not planted by them, and learnt something from their carefree instinct. When he began his preaching he remembered the lesson of the birds which he out across to his followers. They would sit at his feet in their hundred, their faces turned up towards him in eager expectation of his words of wisdom and healing. The Pharisees and priests stood around the perimeter with their turned up noses; they would not mix with the stinking masses, and kept a clinical distance from the upstart rabbi, named Jesus.  (We all know who the real scumbags were).  And what was this young, tall, muscular, good looking rabbi telling the poor people at his feet?

 He noticed the worry and pain on their upturned faces and was asking them: “What are you worried about? Your pain is my pain. You must be worry-free as the birds. Be as simple as doves, and wise as serpents. Be innocent as lambs, and shine like lamps on lamp stands. Your heavenly Father delights in you for he sees you as children singing and dancing in the open square.”  His hearers got the point: like the birds they should be free of worry, but like responsible human beings, they must work hard to sow the seed, water and harvest the crop. We must be concerned about our duties but not worried. Jesus Christ also worked hard and was always surrendered to the Father. One author has said: “I have yet to see a picture of the comfortable Jesus sitting in an easy chair.” Conscientiousness and honest hard work is what builds the world and pleases God. That is the divine attitude. Our Lord Jesus assures us that in the labour of our minds and bodies he is always with us, in every circumstance and period of our lives. “I am with you.”

 Let us become more and more aware of his presence by prayer and periods of silence. With this unshakeable conviction we can go on to reducing and diluting our worry or worries. The one thing for which Almighty God depends on us is our free respect and love. Yet, to God that is the most precious of all. The Most High accepts and loves us as we are; do we accept and love God as God? That is the pinnacle of human freedom. To fathom this freedom ever so slightly is breathtaking. We are free to accept or reject the One who loves us immensely, and to whom we owe our very being. In comparison, all other freedoms are but trifles. The power of heaven cannot withstand the person who truly fears God. It is a life-giving paradox that the fear of God liberates us from anxious fears. When we live with a sense of awe for the sovereignty of God we relativize the adverse powers. Zechariah announced after the birth of his John that God swore “to set us free form the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life” (Luke 1, 74). The ultimate way to overcome anxiety is the fear of God. That might well be its greatest gift!

    Let me advise you to analyse your situations, break it down to its elements, confronting each one of them and discovering how harmless it is. Do not isolate yourself. Stay with the community, especially at Sunday Mass.

 There is great power and healing when we pray together under the headship of Jesus Christ.  Besides the spiritual benefit, what you can also do is to meet with the person who is causing you worry or anxiety or even anger. Remember Jesus’ advice: “settle the matter with your neighbour rather than go to court.” Empowered by the Spirit, you can be energetic as ever mentally and physically. But the most radical resource and reinforcement against worry is prayer. Spending time with Jesus, especially before the tabernacle, has immense benefits. You know how Jesus spent entire nights on the mountain and lonely places, communing with his Father, surrendering himself to his Abba. Ask him to include you in his prayer and offering. “Lord Jesus, as you offer yourself to your Father, offer me in union with you.” This is just the prayer you can say when you receive Holy Communion.  You can be sure that the Father cannot refuse the Son. Then ask others to pray for you. In the eye of the storm, in your heart and emotions, in your mind and body, there is the loving Jesus, serene and strong, inviting you with those beautiful words: “Abide in my love.” He will give you the strength to face the anxiety or he will vaporise it. Please note, when Jesus says, “Fear not, and be not anxious”; he is not dishing out some brotherly advice or psychological counsel. No, he is issuing a command! “Fear not” is a command. To fear is a sin, and you must confess it. Funny, isn’t it? And what commandment is it? Actually it is the First Commandment. “I am the Lord your God. I am the Master of your life, not you.” “When I took up the Cross, I included yours, too. There is only one cross, and you are helping me to carry it. I’m so grateful.” So think of the gratitude of Jesus when you are valiantly confronting your worry and working out the problem at hand.

 Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, I want to thank you for allowing me to help you carry your Cross by accepting my sadness, confronting my fear, and bearing my anxiety with fortitude. I know that your Resurrection is already happening in my trial.  I shall go through with it since I know that you are here with me. Yes, Lord, I receive your peace. Your peace is mine, because I am yours.  It’s good to be with you, Lord; may I be with you forever. Amen.