Dear All
Today we welcomed Penny back to the piano which was a great joy.
Please note that we have decided to postpone next week’s church tea which was planned for Saturday 18th February – too many people are going to be away.
This Week
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Eucharist followed by coffee in Friendship House
Saturday 18th February – Church Tea – Postponed
Readings for next Sunday – Sunday before Lent – Exodus 24:12-18 2 Peter 1:16-end Matthew 17:1-9
Today’s Readings – Genesis 1 1-2 3 Romans 8 18-25 Matthew 6 25-end
This week we have all been shocked and moved by the terrible news of the catastrophic earthquake on the Turkish Syrian border. The image of a new-born baby rescued from the rubble still attached to its mother’s cord I’m sure will remain with us for a long time.
I can remember I friend of mine once saying “the thing about life is, it’s just one damn thing after another”. It does indeed seem that humanity over the years and centuries does tend to lurch from one disaster to another: globally, nationally and personally, there is always something to concern us.
But today in our scripture we are encouraged to have hope. In the gospel Jesus says “Don’t worry about your body … Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.” Matthew 6:25-34
Familiar words which roll off the tongue easily. They give us comfort and remind us that God is with us, that God cares for us, and that God will provide what we need for a full and abundant life. But although the language is beautiful Its challenging and hard to believe sometimes because we know the reality of life. But Paul understood this, in his letter to the Romans he says, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now……. ……..we ourselves, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our redemption” Romans 8:22-23
In the gospels Jesus tells us, plainly and simply, “Don’t worry,” Matthew 6:25
But we do it anyway, it’s in our genes, it’s as if we’re born to worry. Of course, some of us are better at it than others. I’ve known many people over the years who could qualify as professional worriers. They always must have something to worry about. And I know because I used to be one of them. Thankfully, I’m much better now, but if you’re not careful, worrying can become a way of life, an indulgence almost and in this passage, Jesus tells us clearly, we are not to.
And there are other examples throughout the bible. For example, in his Letter to the Philippians, Paul says,
“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6-7
The Psalmist writes, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you” Psalm 55:22
In Isaiah we read, “… fear not, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you ….” Isaiah 41:9-10
Just before he was arrested, Jesus told his disciples not to worry. He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me,” John 14:1-2
And from 1 Peter, we read, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”1 Peter 5:7
So, we are taught not to worry, but the fact is we do it anyway because it’s so hard not to. The question is what can we do about it?
I suggest there are three things that we can do: first, we can expose worry for what it is, an often fruitless activity, particularly if it is over something about which we can do nothing, the second is to establish if there indeed anything we can do about our concern, if so we should do it: face the fear and anxiety – deal with it – don’t dwell on it. The third solution covers the first two – we can pray. We can put all our concerns before God – trust in his love and support.
Jesus said “come to me all who are heavy ladened and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28
Worry is part of the human condition – we can’t help it, often it’s a sign of a sensitive and caring nature and it would be wrong to make ourselves so tough and hardcore that we couldn’t feel for others or ourselves or be moved by worldly events as in the news this week. But here in this passage Jesus is urging us to keep a proportion – to keep life in perspective and remember the three-point plan:
Ignore what we can’t do,
Act when we can
And pray about it all.
Most importantly, we need to embrace the words of hope from Saint Paul – a hope which underpins all our human existence. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” Romans 8:18 Shades of the resurrection…..
We need to remember and keep reminding ourselves that in Christ all things are made new and that is why he tells us “Do not worry”
Amen