Never worry about anything

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

IN this Lenten season when we are encouraged to do some deep reflection and penance if only to grow in our spiritual life, to make ourselves more identified with Christ, we should try to develop a lifestyle of abiding faith and hope such that nothing should worry us.

And the reason for this is because Christ, the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity, takes care of everything. All we have to do is to try our best to be with Christ who makes himself ever available to us, providing us with everything that we need.

This Christian attitude has basis on what many saints have testified very vividly. St. Paul, for example, has these following testimonies to support that claim:

• “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4,6-7)
• “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4,12-13)
• “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2 Cor 4,8-10)

We really need to learn how to think, react and behave according to what our Christian faith teaches us. For this, we need to spend time meditating on these truths of our faith, and to develop the appropriate skills and attitude. We should not dare to live our life, tackling all sorts of conditions, by relying simply on our human powers.

What is also helpful is to avail ourselves of the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, where we can have the very body of Christ in us, and hopefully share his very own spirit that animated the souls of all the saints.

With Christ, we really would have no reason to fear, nor to wallow in worries, anxieties and sadness. Christ himself has reassured us in this regard: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33)

Let’s also remember that these unfortunate states are fertile ground for the enemies of our soul, especially the devil, to take advantage of us. Rather we should learn to convert these unfortunate situations as occasions to go to Christ.

About the only reason to fear, worry and be sad is when we lose our faith, when we lose touch with God. We have to pray and pray so that our doubts and fears would not undermine our faith.

What also helps is to develop a sporting attitude in life, because, to be realistic about it, we will always have frustrations, disappointments, mistakes, failures, sins and defeats in our life. But we just have to learn how to move on, just like a good sportsman.

We should always be cheerful in life, and strive to show it even externally with smiles and happy, warm and encouraging dispositions. Even in our grief and mourning, we should manage to learn how to be serene, knowing that suffering and death have already been redeemed by Christ and are now endowed with redemptive power.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com