Often in life we worry about things that we can’t really affect. Better instead to worry – or be concerned – about things we can influence, such as whether we are faithfully following God. Fr Richard reflects on today’s readings from Mass.
Readings for Tuesday of the 21st week of ordinary time can be found here.
Are you one of life’s worriers? Some people, it seems, worry about everything, most of which they can’t do anything about. Having left the house they worry that they have left the iron on, and this occupies their mind for the whole day. Or they board an aeroplane and worry that it will crash, so they cannot relax on the journey. Of course, worrying is not going to make the iron switch itself off (hint – it was probably off anyway), or make the plane arrive safely at its destination (hint – it most likely will). This sort of worrying, though natural, is a waste of time and achieves nothing.
In our first reading, Paul is addressing the Christians in Thessalonica who have been worrying that “the day of the Lord” – the return of Jesus to judge all people – has already come. Apparently, their state of alarm has been caused by other people saying it has happened or even impersonating one of Paul’s letters to say so. Paul in effect urges them not to worry, for they will be left in no doubt when the return of Jesus does actually happen. Worrying about it will not make any difference. Instead, Paul urges the Thessalonians to “stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us”. This is something they can influence, and this is what they should be worried, or concerned about.
In the Gospel, Jesus criticises the Pharisees for worrying about the wrong things. They are obsessing over whether they have offered a tithe (or one-tenth) of the tiniest herbs or worrying about washing cups and plates. Instead, Jesus says, there are weightier matters to worry about – whether one is exercising justice, mercy and faithfulness.
Like the Thessalonians or the Pharisees, we might sometimes be tempted to worry or obsess about things which in the end don’t really matter, or that we can’t influence. And not just whether the iron is still on or whether the plane will crash. Instead, let us worry about what we can influence – whether, in fact, we are being faithful followers of God and doing all we can to spread his love in the world.
Mass today is in St Mary’s at 6.30pm.
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