As Jesus speaks to Martha, he reveals how anxiety and worry are calmed by pausing to be still and listen to him.
Mass Readings – 16th Sunday of the Year
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Tag Archives: anxiety
16th Sunday of the Year: Christ calms our anxieties and fears. Catholic Inspiration
Daily Mass: Do not worry! Catholic Inspiration
It is so easy to give in to worry! How often do we feed our fears and yield to anxiety? Jesus speaks to this common human condition and offers us a powerful way forward.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 11th Week of the Year
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4th Sunday of the Year: Be free of anxiety. Catholic Inspiration
St. Paul speaks to the people of Corinth, desiring that they be free from anxiety. As we continue to face the challenges of COVID-19 may we discern what is in our control to change and pray for the Lord’s grace to face what comes our way.
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of the Year
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4th Sunday of the Year: The use of power and authority.
Study: Consider a time in life when you used power and authority well. What helped and guided you?
Pray: Ask the Lord for the wisdom and courage to live your life in accordance with God’s commands.
Serve: How can you make a difference with your life today? What is in your reach to do that makes an immediate difference?
Mass Readings – 4th Sunday of the Year
In great and small ways, we all exercise power and authority. Some people make daily decisions that shape the lives of nations; others rule kingdoms no bigger than the back garden. Yet regardless of size and shape, the fact remains that power and authority are part of human life.
Having these two dynamic attributes, however, are no guarantee that they will be used wisely and well. History is filled with both good and bad examples where power and authority have been used – for great good and great harm.
Like all gifts, power and authority find their origin in the Lord. God is the source of all life, and every blessing, every ability, derives its strength from the throne of Heaven. Both the first reading and the Gospel today acknowledge this truth: Moses proclaims that God will raise up a future prophet for the people; Jesus teaches with authority and casts out demons. As Christ fulfills the promise of Moses, the Lord extends his power to conquer sin and death that we might have hope in this world as we look to the world to come.
In light of these readings two thoughts emerge for consideration:
- Do I acknowledge God’s power and authority in my life?
- Do I use the power and authority I have for God’s glory?
Think about it. We often know what we should do…the question is, do we do it?! The Lord’s commands (forgiveness, prayer, service to the poor, justice, etc.) are not nice things to think about in our spare time. They are dictates from on high that are meant to enliven us and fill us with grace, peace, and joy. The problem of course is that our own ego can get in the way and redirect our energy away from God. In these moments, we search our conscience (Remember the Examination of Conscience last week?) and return to the Lord.
And while we are examining our hearts, we have the opportunity to put into practice the power and authority we have in a 1001 ways. Consider:
- Family, Friends, Acquaintances, Colleagues, Classmates
- Strangers, Enemies, Chance Visitors
- The Environment, The Legal System, Local Government
- Any place where our lives touch another…
Since all power comes from God and flows through us, it might be helpful to recall that one day we are going to stand before Jesus Christ. With loving eyes he will look into our souls and ask what we did with the gift of life we were given. It’s not the mistakes we made that will be hardest to bear, but the opportunities we missed to good with what we had. Perhaps today we might reflect on the Lord’s commands for our lives, and reconsider how we might put them into practice with the power we possess.
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Note: This post was first published on January 25, 2015.
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Daily Mass: Letting go of useless worry. Catholic Inspiration
The Lord’s insight about useless worry addresses a common human condition. We can easily waste the gift of life being anxious over things that give us nothing in return! Instead, may we focus on the Kingdom of God for the grace and strength we need.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 11th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: When anxious or worried, we focus on Christ. Catholic Inspiration
We all know the story of Mary and Martha, but sometimes we forget that the Lord gently chides Martha because she is “anxious and worried about many things.” When we fall into useless worry, our best prescription is to focus on Christ for the strength and wisdom we need.
Mass Readings – Tuesday of the 27th Week of the Year
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Daily Mass: Be Vigilant! Catholic Inspiration
The Lord calls us to be vigilant – against drowsiness, anxiety, and drunkenness – as we pray for the strength to face our challenges in this life. For always remember: one day we will stand before the Son of Man.
Mass Readings – Saturday of the 34th Week of the Year
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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Daily Mass: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – Friday of the 4th Week of Easter
How often do we let worry and anxiety bring trouble to our hearts? Yet the words of Jesus in the Gospel today remind us (once again!) that the Lord’s grace is greater than the stresses of our lives.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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8th Sunday of the Year: Do not worry! Catholic Inspiration
Mass Readings – 8th Sunday of the Year
When worry overtakes us we lose our focus on the Lord and run the risk of wasting the gift of our lives. Jesus knows this, and his teaching in the Gospel today reminds us that as we follow Christ we will receive what we need to encounter each day when we think, pray and share over the worry that confronts us.
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Archive of Fr. Andrew’s Podcasts
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8th Sunday of the Year: Do not worry!
Study: Reflect on a time when worry and anxiety overwhelmed you. What broke the cycle and restored your perspective?
Pray: Is there something that you are worried about right now? Bring it to prayer and ask the Lord for guidance and peace in your heart.
Serve: Do you know someone who is overly anxious? How can you help comfort, calm and support them?
Mass Readings – 8th Sunday of the Year
Worry, worry, worry! How often are we caught up in the anxieties, cares, stresses, and distractions of life! How easy it is to get spun up by things (often far outside our control) and waste time and energy that could be spent in a much more fruitful manner.
Here’s a quick overview of the readings:
- 1st Reading – The Lord says, “I will never forget you.”
- Psalm – “Rest in God alone, my soul.”
- 2nd Reading – We are servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries
- Gospel – “Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow can take care of itself!”
Of course, just saying “Do not worry!” is not enough. It’s a simple sentence yet often difficult to put into practice. Why? Because there are many things in life we care about, and that natural concern – if left unattended – can take on a life of its own. When we let our natural cares run out of control we lose our perspective, and in turn we start to focus on the wrong priorities.
Yes, there are things that we need to worry about: making sure that our basic needs are met, attending to the natural cares of ourselves and our loved ones, doing the necessary planning and preparation so that life flows smoothly. This is part of our daily work, and as such we make the effort to do our best.
Here’s a simple question that I find often helps determine if I should worry about something: “Do I have any power to change or influence this situation?” If the issue in question is within my influence and control, then perhaps it is something that I need to attend to. But if the issue is outside my influence, then perhaps I need to let it go…worrying about it will only waste my life!
Easier said than done. That’s why I believe Jesus took the time to talk about this “useless worry” with his disciples. The Lord knows our hearts and understands how worry can overtake our lives.
So today, if we discover that worry is wasting our time and attention, may we call upon the grace of God to let it go and trust that the Lord will give us what we need to face the cares of life.
Three Great Things 