Today’s gospel is part of a collection of teachings Jesus is sharing with a gathered crowd. It follows the infamous Beatitudes, as well as his teachings on fulfilling the law, giving to the needy, the importance of prayer and fasting, and so much more. I can imagine that if I was part of this crowd, I would be stressed I didn’t have a scroll and some ink to write this all down! However, with today’s gospel, it is as if Jesus could sense this and simply reminded the people: “Just seek the Kingdom continuously in all that you do, and everything will be alright.” How appropriate is this message as we find ourselves in the midst of another lockdown?
We are human, and so often we get caught up in the material world. I know for me personally, I am constantly anxious over my performance at work, the pressure of my studies, and whether I am a good enough friend and daughter. I worry so often about my image. What am I wearing? How does my hair look? What will others think of me? As we move further into this lockdown, my thoughts are now occupied with what the future holds for us. Worry, worry, worry. Today’s gospel is a profound reminder that these thoughts are not worth my time. Jesus says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” What a wake-up call! I feel immediately grounded by Christ’s words. The reading goes on to remind us that our God is good and that He will always provide for us because we know no love like His. If we choose the faith every day, there is nothing for us to worry about – we will be taken care of. We just need to let the Spirit move.
Today is also the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. How fitting alongside this reading. Throughout her life, she enacted exactly what Jesus calls us to today. Throughout all her trials, she always trusted in God’s providence. A charism of the Josephites, the order she established, is radical trust – the conviction that God would provide if she set her heart on loyal service to the Church. It is through this trust that the impact of her work in schools and for the needy around Australia is still felt by us all today.
So, may the spirit of Mary MacKillop help us to clothe ourselves in trust and leave all our worries behind, and may the words of Jesus in today’s gospel comfort us in this time of uncertainty.
Take care of yourselves.