Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 26 February 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 26 February 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Meditation: James 4: 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow let’s go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” 14 Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. 15 For you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that.” 16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil. 17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.

7th Week in Ordinary Time

If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that. (James 4:15)

Using an expression that goes back to the primitive Church, many Arab Christians end their conversations with “if God wills.” “I will see you next week, if God wills.” “My daughter is set to get married in the spring, if God wills.” We see Paul using this expression when he wrote to the Christians at Corinth: “I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing” (1 Corinthians 4:19). And in today’s first reading, James reminds us that our future is in God’s control. We can make the best of plans, but only God can guarantee the future.

If this is the case, wouldn’t it make sense simply to sit on our front porches and wait for the Second Coming? Well, not exactly. Nothing would ever get done! God wants us to be out in the world, building his kingdom—but doing it in a way that keeps us free from anxiety or worry over the future. After all, if he provides so abundantly for the birds and the flowers, how much more can we, his own children, rely on his care and guidance?

The same principle applies to our personal lives as well. God wants us to work hard at our jobs, be involved in our family and neighborhood, and take care of ourselves both physically and mentally. But he doesn’t want the demands of any of these responsibilities to overshadow our joy and confidence in him and his provision.

Anxiety is neither helpful nor necessary. It robs us of our faith and saps us of our energy. God wants us to place our hope in him and in the future he has promised us. He wants us to be free to serve him. So don’t let the cares of this world make you afraid. Don’t let your worries convince you that you have to overcome every obstacle on your own. Instead, turn to the Lord, and surrender your future into his hands. Ask his Spirit to help you let go of worry so that you can live in the light of his promises.

“Lord, free me from needless worry and preoccupation. I want to abandon myself to your plan. May I live every day with trust and gratitude for your providential care.” Amen!

Psalms 49: 2     both low and high,

    rich and poor together.

3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom.

    My heart shall utter understanding.

6 Those who trust in their wealth,

    and boast in the multitude of their riches—

7     none of them can by any means redeem his brother,

    nor give God a ransom for him.

8 For the redemption of their life is costly,

    no payment is ever enough,

9     That he should live on forever,

    that he should not see corruption.

10 For he sees that wise men die;

    likewise the fool and the senseless perish,

    and leave their wealth to others.

11 Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever,

    and their dwelling places to all generations.

    They name their lands after themselves.

Mark 9: 38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”

39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.

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