Worry!

It’s an epidemic in our country, and in all likelihood throughout the world.  We worry—FAR too much, far too often.

Experts will admit that “being anxious” about things may have some positive effects.  This is NOT a statement in favor of anxiety.  But some healthy concern over things one KNOWS to be coming can lead one to a healthy level of preparation for what lays ahead.  Preparing for a job interview is one ‘positive’ example.  And if I might, preparing for confession is another, wherein focusing, being anxious to assure that I remember all I want to and need to confess, is quite healthy.  And doing so leads one to a place where, AFTER confession, that sensation of being anxious to get it right is totally washed away!

But as human beings, we allow worldly things to “eat at us.”  You know how it manifests itself.  Our mouth gets dry.  Our heart rate increases.  We become fatigued more rapidly.  Maybe we get headaches, or have trouble concentrating.  Often we get irritable.  It can lead to becoming nauseous, cold sweats, trembling of hands. 

If we allow ourselves to be impacted by worry to such an extent, worse things can develop.  Immune systems become compromised.  Digestive disorders develop.  Muscle tension increases.  Perhaps short-term memory loss occurs.  In the extreme, it can lead to premature coronary artery disease, or even a heart attack. (all this from webmd.com)

Our Lord is speaking to us on this day about such issues (Mat 6:22-33).  But He doesn’t open this discussion delving first into worry.  He opens with the eye, and the eye’s being good and full of light.  What is this light that Jesus is speaking of?

It is the Light that is Christ.  St. John’s Gospel is filled with these references.  I am the Light of the world. (John 8:12, 9:5)  I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)  This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (John 3:19)

Jesus then points to the fact that we, as a people, are double-minded, and we vacillate between Light and dark, between Good and evil.

And the excursions toward the evil lead to anxiety, to worry, and to the things that war against not just our bodies (wearing them out, wearing them down), but our spirits.

Anxiety leads to doubt, and to losing sight of what is important.  Consider the Apostle Peter when Christ came to the Apostles in the storm on the sea, and he asked the Lord to bid him to come to Him on the water.  What happened?  The world interfered with the righteous desire to go to Christ.  It threw wind and rain and water at the Apostle.  He allowed the elements to move his focus from Christ to the “noise” that surrounded him.  If he stays focused on Jesus, he comes to Him and joins him in joy.  But he saw obstacles.  And he began to worry.

Jesus explains to us how God in Trinity looks upon us, His creation.  He gives freely to us because He loves us.

What do we do?  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Worry will disappear!