(Prayer offered on the Public Address system for the La Salle Academy educational community on Thursday morning, 27 March 2014)

 

Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

We worry. We worry about lots of things. We worry about something that happened yesterday. We worry about what will happen today. We worry about what’s going to happen tomorrow. Worry consumes so much of our time and energy. And most of our worry is just negative energy, and much of the time it’s wasted energy because the things we worry about end up not even happening. Worrying takes us out of the present moment.

Ultimately, worry is a lack of trust in God’s care for us. The antidote to worry is to trust. Trust that God loves us; trust that he will take care of us; trust that, even if bad things happen, God can make everything ultimately work for the good.

So often we get caught up in worrying that we miss all of the blessings that God is giving to us in the present moment.  Think about it: we only have the present moment. The past is gone, the future doesn’t exist. We only have this moment.

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not here. We have only today. Let us begin.” Jesus himself told us not to worry about tomorrow, to let tomorrow take care of itself.

One of my favorite quotes is from St. Francis de Sales:

“Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;
rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same understanding Father who cares for
you today will take care of you then and every day.

He will either shield you from suffering
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.”

So today, let’s try to worry less. Let’s try to live in the present moment, trusting that God will take care of us. Let’s try to be attentive to all of the blessings he gives us.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle…pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts…forever.

 

Reverend Michael Najim–Academy Chaplain