February 27, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Rest in God alone, my soul. — Psalm 62:6

Mass Readings: Isaiah 49:14-15 / 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 / Matthew 6:24-34

Don’t Worry — Be Happy!  

In his song with the same title, Bobby McFerrin advises, “Don’t worry, be happy.” It’s a wonderful way to sum up what Jesus says in today’s Gospel! “Do not worry” is not advice or comfort. It’s a command tied (by the word ‘‘therefore’’ in v. 25) to Jesus’ insistence that “You cannot serve God and mammon” (v. 24). “Mammon” means wealth or property. While acknowledging human needs as real and important, Jesus equates worry over such things with being enslaved by them. 

From a common-sense viewpoint, worry is fruitless because — while consuming time, energy and peace of mind — it can’t change troublesome situations (v. 27). Worse, worry is faithless, for it indicates a lack of trust in God’s provision (v. 30). Worry can drag us away from God just as surely as deliberate acts of evil can. 

Prayer: Father, let me lay my worries at Your feet — and be content to leave them there.