A priest friend of mine writes a weekly blog, in which he provides a brief reflection on the Sunday scriptures. This past weekend he grabbed a line from the second reading from the first letter to the Corinthians.
"I would like you to be free from all anxieties."
He then writes, "I would like that as well. Who wouldn't? But these days, who can be?"
My friend continues to list what causes us anxiety, beginning with the tragic events at the Capital in Washington, D.C. on January 6th. I quickly created my own list of anxiety-producing topics and circumstances, and I am sure you can create one yourself.
My list included health, quarantining, competing world economies, political tensions both international and local, Church scandals, global struggles for vaccines, terrorism, and more. And, then there were more mundane items such as, should I work on my homily or read that novel that I'm enjoying so much, or, is it ok if I play one more game of solitaire on my computer? I did say these were mundane. Maybe that's an understatement.
St. Francis de Sales famously wrote, "Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry." St. Francis points out the danger of anxiety and how it can fracture our spirits and rob our peace of mind. While many anxiety-producing realities are beyond our capability to change or control, how we respond to them is entirely in our hands. My friend, the priest blogger, goes on to Mark's gospel from this past Sunday and writes, "What we have in this brief exchange between Jesus and a man caught up in darkness is a power struggle. Darkness challenges The Light of Christ, and The Light prevails. It is a power struggle that will continue until Christ returns in glory, leading creation into the Reign of God. Then, evil will totally surrender."
This is where I found myself wondering, "How can I allow the power of Christ's light to reveal the evil of my anxieties, clear them from my heart and mind, and allow Christ to reign within me?" Again, St. Francis leads us to the answer with several often-quoted lines. Perhaps most famously, "Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually: 'The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him, and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.'"
Another quote from Francis: "We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God. If at times we are somewhat stunned by the tempest, never fear. Let us take a breath and go on afresh."
Finally, one of my favorite quotes from Francis, both poignant and humorous, "What is the use of building castles in Spain, when you have to live in France?"
All of this advice from Francis encourages us to live in the present moment: to see in the place where we are, in the people with whom we associate, and in the challenge immediately in front of us. This is the place in which we meet the God of peace, the God of life.
So, when you find yourself anxious and worried, when you are unsettled and confused, when things are becoming a bit overwhelming, do what Francis says, "Let us take a breath." Look around you and find the goodness and grace of the moment. See your life through an optimistic lens recognizing that the Reign of God is near to you now. In fact, “He is not only with me but in me and I in Him.” Then we can “...go on afresh."
There is a sense of freedom, when you find that place of confidence in God’s benevolence, which brings calm and peace. So, live in the moment, do not fear the future, or regret the past. It is in this present moment in which God is present to you and offering you the fullness of his love and grace.
Now, back to that game of solitaire.
God be blessed,
Fr. Jack Loughran, OSFS
Provincial
Toledo-Detroit Province
