Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. – Matthew 6:34

       You have just received your paycheck. But instead of excitement, you feel dread because of the many bills you have to pay.

       An entire day has passed without you and your partner arguing, but instead of feeling blessed, you are wary because there is no way that this peace will last long.

     Your sister treated you to lunch, but instead of being grateful, you wonder what she wants from you.

      What if I don’t eat tomorrow? What if I don’t have enough money to pay my bills tomorrow? What if tomorrow we break up? These questions always cross our minds.

       But I realized that worrying dishonors God, because it means that we don’t trust Him enough. As the God of Order, He orchestrates every event in our lives to give us a most blessed life. As the God of Faithfulness, He promises that we will never have to worry about anything.

       Let us enjoy every present moment and let tomorrow take care of itself. Karren Renz Seña (karren.s@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflection: When was the last time you truly enjoyed the present moment? This moment is a gift from God. Thank Him for it.

Lord, I pray that I may be able to enjoy the present moment and trust that You will take care of all my tomorrows.

The constant message of the prophets to the kings of Israel is summed up in one word — repentance. They constantly call for  transformation of lives so that the rulers will focus on the people and not the perpetuation of their wealth and power.

2 Chronicles 24:17-25

17 After the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and paid homage to King Joash, and the king then listened to them. 18 They forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and began to serve the sacred poles and the idols; and because of this crime of theirs, wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although prophets were sent to them to convert them to the Lord, the people would not listen to their warnings. 20 Then the Spirit of God possessed Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He took his stand above the people and said to them: “God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the Lord’s commands, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’” 21 But they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the Lord’s temple. 22 Thus King Joash was unmindful of the devotion shown him by Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, and slew his son. And as Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge.” 23 At the turn of the year a force of Arameans came up against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, did away with all the princes of the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Though the Aramean force came with few men, the Lord surrendered a very large force into their power, because Judah had abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers. So punishment was meted out to Joash. 25 After the Arameans had departed from him, leaving him in grievous suffering, his servants conspired against him because of the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

Psalm 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34

R: Forever I will maintain my love for my servant.

3 [4] “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant: 4 [5] Forever will I confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations.” (R) 28 [29] Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm. 29 [30] I will make his posterity endure forever and his throne as the days of heaven.” (R) 30 [31] “If his sons forsake my law and walk not according to my ordinances, 31 [32] If they violate my statutes and keep not my commands.” (R) 32 [33] “I will punish their crime with a rod and their guilt with stripes. 33 [34] Yet my mercy I will not take from him, nor will I belie my faithfulness.” (R)

Trusting in the providence of God requires great faith. St. Francis of Assisi trusted God and it has transformed the Church’s spirituality. I remember a time in my formation when we were sent out in twos with nothing but a change of clothes. It was frightening at first — we wondered where we would sleep and what we would eat for the next 10 days. However, on returning home and sharing our stories with the other pairs, it turned out to be a great faith-strengthening experience.

Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

24 Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? 28 Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. 29 But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ 32 All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 34 Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

think: Trusting in the providence of God requires great faith.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

“Forever I will maintain my mercy for him,” says God through the psalmist He inspired, referring to His servant King David. Practically, the rest of the verses of Psalm 89 are God’s tribute to the great shepherd-king of Israel.

       What about us? Immediately I wonder if we ever get to revel in a preferential favor by God. Or do we deserve it at all? It might be good to reflect on this once in a while.

       Meanwhile, the very first verse of our Gospel passage today is as radical as it can be. Jesus says we cannot serve two masters. There are no two ways to go about it. He demands an equally radical response of total trust and dependence on God, which explains the rest of the Gospel passage.

       In the Responsorial Psalm, we have a clear and explicit assurance from God. We need not worry at all; instead, we do our best to revamp our priorities in life and put God’s Kingdom right on top of the list. The rest will just align and fall in place. This is because God is up there at No. 1. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: Who or what takes the first priority in your life?

Thank You for reminding me today, Lord, that You should be my first priority in life. Help me manifest this truth in my day-to-day life. Amen.