The Courage of Letting Go

‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

Luke 6.25-34

Reflection

Jesus in this Bible passage is not telling us to be careless, or propagating a philosophy which tells us 'don't worry, be happy' as if by disregarding the state of the world we will somehow improve our lives. Jesus is telling us to be mindful in what we put our energies into, to be focussed on the needs of the moment, which contain quite enough troubles of their own.

In this frightening, difficult, and disparate time we are being called to trust in God, one another, and ourselves - that together we might find the courage to resist the forces which draw us towards despair, to stand alongside those who are speaking up for justice, mercy, peace, and equity. We are being called to have the focus, the courage, to address the needs of today - together, in community, and as those devoted to the way of Christ.

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Artwork: Maria Faedo, A Matter of Trust, 1994, paper on fiberglass screen with cotton thread, 72 x 72 x 1/8 in. (183.0 x 183.0 x .3 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1995.21