Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter: Year 2
Morning, Psalm 71; Evening, Psalm 74;
Leviticus 19: 26 to 37; 2nd Thessalonians 1:1 to 12; Matthew 6:25 to 34:
“And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” (Matthew 6:27)
I am a champion worrier. And I realize that the worrying itself (in most cases), does more harm to my wellbeing than the issue I am worrying about. I think worrying is somehow related to fear. They must be cousins if not parent and child, fear then, giving birth to worry, or the other way around. I heard in a movie once that basically fear is a deep concern about some event that has not happened yet, and may not happen at all. And yet here we are, ready to give up or worse yet, do something regrettable because of it.
Our Lord Jesus makes the point that worrying really can’t help us, only hurt us. Our Lord Jesus tells us regarding things we worry about that, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of Godand hisrighteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6: 32 – 33)
I also ponder about the next verse and how God’s time might apply here. Our Lord Jesus says, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34) So tomorrow! Is that this life or the next? I fear that I worry still.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, you know what we need before we do and well before we began to worry about what bad could happen. Create and sustain a path in us to your calmness whereby we might settle ourselves down and be more at peace when we get anxious. Please God, in your most holy Name. Amen.
Today we remember Athanasius, Bishop of Egypt (2 May 373). His bio can be found at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Athanasius.htm.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools including St. Augustine in Raleigh, North Carolina.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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