Posted by The WORD in other words (2015) by Father Isabelo San Luis SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Saturday 11th Week in Ordinary Time
There is a story about a man suffering from insomnia. He decided to try the old remedy of counting sheep. But when the first sheep stumbled and fell, he became so involved in imagining what would happen next — who would help the sheep, how many more would stumble, how much the shepherd would lose — that he worried even more and could not sleep!
In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us not to worry but to trust in God: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink… Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25–27).
When Jesus points to the lilies of the field and the birds of the sky, He reminds us that God, in His providence, cares for us. As J.C. Holland insightfully wrote: “God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it into the nest.” Birds still work hard to feed their young. In the same way, Jesus’ command “Don’t worry” does not mean “Don’t work.”
Of course, there are real causes for worry — debts, job loss, illness. In these cases, faith calls us to do our best to remedy the situation. But when circumstances are beyond human control — the unexpected death of a loved one, an incurable sickness — then we must accept them in faith, trusting God’s providence.
As someone wisely said: “Don’t worry about things you can’t do anything about.” Do your best, and God will do the rest.
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