Anxious and worried

"The Lord said to her in reply, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her'." [Luke 10:41-42]

So many of us today are anxious and worried about many things. We feel the absolute need to control everything and everyone. When we sense a loss of control, we become overwhelmed with fear and anxiety and sometimes explode with anger, followed by regret and sorrow.

Jesus tells us that there is need for only one thing and that is to focus our eyes on Him. Our human nature is truly joyful and at peace when He is the center and Lord of our life. Since "All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be" [John 1:3], all things are designed by nature to be complete when in union with Him.

To make him Lord is to subject to him, every feeling and concern, every thought and action, from the smallest to the greatest, in the past, the present, and the future. It is to imitate Him in carrying our cross and being crucified to the world (Galatians 6:14). It is to be like Him in accepting and yes loving God's will in our life. Gradually we become transformed in Him and see the whole world through His eyes.

Because of our distorted human nature, this is not at all an easy task. In fact, it is a lifetime journey of growth. If it was not, God would not have shed His light on His Gospel through the writings of His saints like St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Francis De Sales, and St. Therese of Lisieux.

The task of making Christ our Lord is not possible on our own. Christianity's dogma that only God can bring us to God is absolute. We have in us, through the gift of our baptism, One who is greater than us, the Spirit of the Lord who will gently work with our will, to free us from our bondage, and to empower us to make Christ our Lord. The transformation is gradual leading first to abundant joy and eventually to peace.

St. Paul tells us "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" [Romans 8: 13-15]

Christ has promised us His peace if we abide in Him: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." [John 14:27]. Take courage, focus on Christ and trust in God's mercy above all.