The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/022617.cfm)
reminds me to not worry and just have faith in God.
I like the movie The Lion King.
It is a feel good movie for me. It reminds me of my childhood. Of course, one
of the more popular songs in the movie is Hakuna
Matata. It is a Swahili phrase which means "no worries".
In the song, it says that Hakuna Matata Means no worries for the rest of your
days. Though in life we would have problems, we should take in this attitude
and not worry, because God is always there taking care of us.
The gospel tells us one of the
most assuring promises for me. These two verses never fail to calm me and
assure me of God's love, plan, and protection.
But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow
will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil
Do not
worry.
In
life, there are lots of reasons to worry. And lots of things to worry about.
Work. Career. Health. Finances. Safety. Lovelife. These are only the basics.
Some people further expand this by adding more things: fame. Power. Reputation.
Possessions. If one focuses on these things, then the quality of life would
really be affected. But today we see how we should deal with these things.
Faith in
God.
They say that if you worry a lot, it means you don’t have faith in God.
Makes sense. Because we can't do anything
by worrying. Jesus asks us not to worry about tomorrow and all the
concerns it brings. We should just have faith in God. We should just focus on
God. We should just seek God.
Would
seeking God and following God solve our concerns? Will it take our problems
away? Yes - but probably not in a way we want to. As we seek Him, He won't give
us worldly solutions - food, money, security, etc. However, he will change our hearts to become more and more like him.
And as we become more and more like him, we will see things in a different perspective. We
will rely on him more. And the things we consider problems won't be so big
anymore. As we seek Him, we will find him and the peace he brings amidst
the distractions in this world.
May
we learn not to worry but to trust in God all the time.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank
you for the beautiful reminder. Lord, I am sorry for always worrying. Sorry for
panicking. Sorry for thinking what else could go wrong. Sorry for focusing on
the problems and on the worst case scenario. Sorry for not having enough faith
in you. Lord, I pray that you help me live the way you want me to. Help me live
with great trust and faith in you. You always provide. You always take care of
me. You always come to my rescue. Help me remember these things. May I worry
less as I pray more. Change me and make me more like you, Lord. Amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
Ps
See
related reflections:
February 26, 2017
Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 82
Reading 1 Is 49:14-15
my LORD has forgotten me."
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
R. (6a) Rest in God alone, my soul.Only in God is my soul at rest;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
Only in God be at rest, my soul,
for from him comes my hope.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
With God is my safety and my glory,
he is the rock of my strength; my refuge is in God.
Trust in him at all times, O my people!
Pour out your hearts before him.
R. Rest in God alone, my soul.
Reading 2 1 Cor 4:1-5
Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Now it is of course required of stewards
that they be found trustworthy.
It does not concern me in the least
that I be judged by you or any human tribunal;
I do not even pass judgment on myself;
I am not conscious of anything against me,
but I do not thereby stand acquitted;
the one who judges me is the Lord.
Therefore do not make any judgment before the appointed time,
until the Lord comes,
for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness
and will manifest the motives of our hearts,
and then everyone will receive praise from God.
Alleluia Hb 4:12
The word of God is living and effective;
discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 6:24-34
"No one can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.
"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?
Look at the birds in the sky;
they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns,
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes?
Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.
They do not work or spin.
But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor
was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field,
which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow,
will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?'
or 'What are we to drink?'or 'What are we to wear?'
All these things the pagans seek.
Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.
Sufficient for a day is its own evil."
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