ANCHORING OUR LIVES IN GOD

SATURDAY, ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDERINARY TIME

2 Chron 24:17-25; Ps 89:4-5,29-34; Mt 6:24-34

The Assurance of Tomorrow

A fundamental reason the Lord calls us to interior prayer is because of the constitution of the physical world or reality. Living through the senses instils inside us worry and anxiety because of the constant change with which physical things are characterised. The constant changes we witness in the external world are supposed to invite us to interior life, where we encounter the true and unchanging reality. The account of the creation of the world, which is the beginning of the Holy Scripture, tells us that the sources of what we see is the unchanging word of God. So, we are to seek clarity about them, not in their ever-changing form of existence, but in the word of God, which is their principle. Subsequently, living and interacting with a changing world daily leaves us drawn out at the end of the day. To remain genuine to ourselves and focused on the goal and purpose of our life, we must learn to begin with God, our origin, and remain hinged or anchored on Him while we navigate the flux of daily changes and the forceful attractions of worldly things. This is possible only through the development of the interior life or prayer.

Our enemy understands our need to be anchored in God every moment, to remain unflustered. Hence, he devises every means to lure us away from the saving presence of God. David stated this truth in Psalm 16:8, “I am always aware of the Lord's presence; he is near, and nothing can shake me.” The covenant of God with David was firmly established based on the constancy of David’s heart and will with God. The Lord himself proclaims his will to build the kingdom of David to last forever. “With my chosen one I have made a covenant; I have sworn to David my servant: I will establish your dynasty for ever and set up your throne through all ages.” As we have noted previously, God’s willingness to establish each of us is never in doubt or undetermined; the faltering is on our side; we lack focus on God, the source of steadfastness and necessity. This causes our lives to wither away like the flowers or grasses in the field. But that is not the will of God for us.

Our Lord says we falter and pass away because we serve a god that is not God. “No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.” Lack of interior life or prayer causes so many of us to fall sick and die without hope. The Son of Man urges us, his disciples, to put our focus and trust in God. “That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat, nor about your body and how you are to clothe it. Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing!” It is practically impossible not to worry without an interior life or prayer. We draw our being, thoughts, and love from what we give our attention. The servants of God place their attention on Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word of God made man for us. So, they are able to know, love, and serve Him, while they despise the world and its riches. King Joash started in the Temple, with his focus on God and he was aided by the priest but was gradually drawn away from God to wealth and power. He murdered Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest, who proclaimed the word of God to him. He deserted the Lord to his own ruin. We must never allow the world and its prince to fill our hearts with anxiety for anything. “Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well.”

Let us pray: O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our plea, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that we may please you by our resolve and our deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.