SAINT ROMUALD, ABBOT (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

Do not worry about your life.

It can be fun to think about the future. What kind of job will I get when I graduate from college? How many kids will I have someday? I can’t wait for my vacation!

There is nothing wrong with thinking about or planning for the future—in fact, it can be a very positive, smart thing to do. But Jesus wants us to live a balanced life, something he emphasizes in today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 6:24-34). He doesn’t want us to spend so much time planning for the future that we forget to live in the present.

There’s another problem with spending too much time on the future. That’s where our worries and fears are rooted. Almost every one of them is about something that hasn’t happened yet—but could happen.

Take a moment to think about all the worries you have had throughout your life. How many of them actually came to pass? Probably only a fraction of them. And if your worst fears were realized, you still experienced some measure of comfort from the Lord. Maybe you even learned something from them and came out wiser and stronger because of them. Whatever they were, you got through them. Maybe they strengthened your faith and trust and taught you to lean on Jesus more.

Jesus promises, “Tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Matthew 6:34). In other words, focus on what’s going on right now. Pay attention to the challenges right in front of you, the problems that need to be solved and the people that need your help right now. Jesus will be with you to help you face them. And he will be there tomorrow to help you do it all over again.

Today, try to catch yourself when you’re worrying about something that may or may not happen. Imagine yourself like the bird that Jesus describes in today’s Gospel (Matthew 6:24-34), flying free from all the earthly fears trying to pull you to the ground. Think about how birds just go about their business without worrying about the future. God takes care of them, and he’ll take care of you.

“Lord, help me to let go of my worries and place them in your loving hands.”

2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Psalm 34:8-13
Matthew 6:24-34

WORD AMONG US