"God teaches the soul by pains and obstacles, not by ideas."

"If we could see all He sees we would unhesitatingly wish all He wishes. We would beg Him on bended knees for those afflictions we now ask Him to spare us."
- St. Claude de la Colombiere

(Gospel Text Mt 6:24-34)

Jesus said to his disciples:

"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."

I think I should read this gospel every day and perhaps twice on those days when I am feeling overwhelmed. You know, those days when it seems the world is not going according to my plan, those days when life throws me a curve. I need to play this over and over in my head:

“Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life span?”

I think I should read this gospel on days when I think I need something someone else has. I need to think of this gospel when I focus on things more than people. I need to ask myself this question:

“Is life not more than food and the body more than clothing?”

We don’t want to let go of our worry or let go of our control. We sometimes think we know better than anyone. If only life could be ordered according to the way I would do things, then it would be better. If only these people in my life would live up to my expectations, then things would be better.  Sometimes that means having faith and not having all the answers.

“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?”

We do need food and clothes and God knows that, the gospel tells us. But we have to put first things first. Seek God. Be thankful for what you have. Enjoy the world and the people around you.  Be present in the moment.

“Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.”