27th Sunday Ordinary time (A) 8 October 2023 Do not worry
There is no need to worry, from today’s second reading (Ph 4,6-9).
It depends a bit on what we mean by worry. We can take it to mean unnecessary anxiety about something.
Some things require what looks like worry, though we might call it ‘concern’.
Trust in God does not mean we ignore serious matters. If we have a fire or a flood chasing us we have to be concerned by that. It would be irresponsible to ignore a situation where we need to take some course of action, eg to warn people of danger.
An informed and charitable concern would be a good thing in that case, and is something that is required of us.
If there is anything you need pray for it (second reading continued).
Prayer will bring God's healing and transforming power into operation. Sometimes it will be a miracle as He overrides His own laws of nature; most times it will be just the smooth and normal running of events.
A lot of our prayer is asking that things don’t go wrong. That will help too.
So for example, with bushfires we pray for people who are in trouble with a fire, but we also pray for the fires not to start.
God will bring all the elements together, especially when we ask Him to intervene.
The first rule is: Don’t panic! We cultivate an awareness of God's presence and closeness.
Each time we escape some trouble we can record that one for future reassurance.
Yet one more time God has come to our assistance. We reaffirm God's goodness and power constantly - which is one reason why we repeat prayers.
If anyone asks why do you say the same things over and over, it is because we need God's protective power operating at all times. Prayer could be seen in the same light of necessity as we need to breathe, or we need our hearts to keep beating.
It is good to trust God but we cannot manipulate Him, or put Him to the test. For example, by driving recklessly, expecting God to cover my mistakes.
The instruction not to worry applies also to the whole Church. As the Church we face many crises, and trust the Lord to get us through, to cross the Red Sea.
What makes trust possible is the quality of those in whom we place that trust.
When we speak of God, or Our Lady, or the saints, we will find no deception there, and total goodwill on their part towards us.
They will not let us down. God may have other plans in mind than we have, but taking the overall view we trust His holy will, and are prepared to go along with it.
We do not abandon God because we think He has abandoned us.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Rom 11,33) ) We cannot understand all His ways but we can learn at least the main points He wants us to know.
He wants us to trust, but also to ask for what we need. This is so that we will articulate our faith and thus come to a clearer understanding of our position.
If we could know that the amount we pray and the intensity of our prayer actually changes things, more people would be praying than is usually the case.
We have it in our power to change what happens next - to make something good happen, or prevent something bad. We may not know what it is we are influencing but the influence will be real all the same.
Far from worrying we go onto the front foot; we turn every situation to victory. Thanks be to God for looking after us so well!
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