TIME TO WORRY, TIME TO PRAY

I saw a Facebook post yesterday evening that said, “If you have time to worry, you have time to pray.” It caught my attention because Judy and I have been having regular conversations about her worry and anxiety.  She’s not alone, I saw a report yesterday stating that 25 to 50% of Americans are suffering from some form of depression and anxiety, rooted in “worry”. I always ask Judy, “What are you worried about, can you name the anxiety trigger?” She would usually say something to the effect, “the state of our nation” or “the world just seems to be going down the wrong path” and “I just feel like I don’t belong in the world.” These are big things, but really have no control over.

The good news is Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (Jn 14:6) Today’s reading completes Paul’s first missionary discourse with the second half of the sermon focused on the death and resurrection of Christ. This was an especially difficult topic for the earliest Christians. The one they believed to be the Messiah, the heir of David, was, in fact, put to death by legitimate religious and civil authorities. A death in which the faithful played a part. Yet, one of the earliest affirmations is this, all this had to happen in accordance with the oracles of the prophets. It was God’s plan. “If you have time to worry, you have time to pray.”

Our Bishop often asks the groups he speaks with, “Where do you desire to go?” He waits finally, someone proclaims “Heaven”. Heaven is our true home, united with God; Father, Son and Spirit, and all the faithful. The things of this world are temporary, often full of pain, suffering, and sorrow. Worrying about the things of this world is useless. Do you trust God? Let God be God and let’s follow Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Jesus is the way, the perfect Son of the Father, obedient, surrendering completely to the Father’s will and trusting in the Father’s call and path for Him. In this Jesus shows us the way to live. Even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Jesus is the truth. Every word Jesus spoke was truth. Everything he did was an expression of the love of our heavenly Father. Everything Jesus does now, as he works in and through the Church, is a proclamation of the Father’s love.

Jesus is the life. To know Jesus is to be fully alive! He shares his own divine life every time we receive Communion. Jesus has chosen to live in us, to satisfy our deepest needs and to rejoice with us at every good gift.

Jesus is reminding us that honoring the fulfillment of God’s promises also requires accompanying responsibilities associated with discipleship. To love our neighbors and even our enemies. Mother Teresa says, “We are commanded to love God and our neighbor equally, without difference. We don’t have to look for opportunities to fill this command, they’re all around us, twenty-four hours a day. You must open your eyes wide so that you can see the opportunities to give free service, wholehearted, right where you are, in your family. If you don’t give such service to your family, you will not be able to give it to those outside your home.” We are called to be like Jesus, to love like God, because if we have time to worry, we have time to pray.