27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s Second Reading (Philippians 4:6-9), Saint Paul encourages the Philippians to “have no anxiety at all.” Easier said than done, right! It is hard for us not to be anxious at times-especially in these times. We become anxious about people – about our children, our spouse, our aging parents. We also become anxious about work, mortgages, car payments, medical issues. We are most certainly anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic and all the changes it has brought to our lives. We are anxious about our nation torn apart by politics and social injustice. When we become anxious, we disturb the quiet within. Saint Paul seems to imply that in order to enter into prayer, we need to set aside our anxieties. This is not an easy thing for us to do. Yet it is often precisely because of our anxieties that we need quiet time in prayer with God, seeking the Lord’s peace and direction in a world filled with too many distractions and anxious moments.

Dialogue with God does not need to be complicated. We do tend to overcomplicate things at times, which often gives us a convenient excuse for not following through. But prayer does not need to be complicated. We can pray anytime and anywhere. We can begin our day in the shower, praising the Lord for another day. We can reflect on the day ahead with the Lord while we get dressed. During our commute to work or while running errands, we can invite the Lord into a difficult encounter we keep having. At lunch or dinner, we can ask the Lord’s blessing on our food and those who gather to share a meal with us. Before we fall asleep, we can review the day and give thanks for what went right while asking forgiveness for what went wrong.

In the quietness of our encounter with the Lord, we will know the Lord’s peace, and that peace will guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. It would be helpful to keep in mind the prayer of Saint Theresa of Avila:

“Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
od alone suffices.”

So let us not grow anxious about too many things. Instead, try to commit to a rhythm of prayer each day. Then, as Saint Paul teaches us today, “the God of peace” will be with us.