"LIFE HAS LESS TO DO WITH WHAT YOU'RE FACING
AND ALOT MORE TO DO WITH WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING"
> All the readings together
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION TO DAILY LIFE
We all experience anxiety. It seems as if it is simply a part of life. However, life is a lot less about what you're facing and a lot more about where you're looking.
WHERE DO WE SEE THIS IN THE SCRIPTURES?
In today's first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes we read: "For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
Where do we go with our anxiety?
#1: We as individuals most often experience anxiety when we are overwhelmed or our future is unknown.
#2: Marriages and families most often experience anxiety when our sense of security or well-being is threatened.
#3: Church communities experience anxiety during change. For example, our parish family here at Christ the Redeemer is experiencing change. Their is a natural anxiety around new faces, new personalities, and the changes in the ways that new people do things. However, during seasons of change we often worry if there will more change than just the new people. In other words, there's a difference between change and changing things. Too much change, or worry that there will be too much change, can cause a lot of anxiety.
GOING DEEPER: WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK?
#1: Ask yourself: "Where does my anxiety come from?" What are the situations in your life right now that you are worried about?
#2: Ask yourself: "Where to I turn with my anxiety? Do I turn in or do I turn to God?" What's your pattern? Do you turn in yourself in self-reliance? Do you turn in on yourself and eventually feel overwhelmed and paralyzed? Or, do you turn toward God in relationship?
#3: Ask yourself: "What in my life is God asking me to hand over to Him? Where in my life is God asking me to trust in Him?" What are the specific situations, relationships, or problems that God is asking you to let Him into?
CONCLUSION: GOING BACK TO THE CORE MESSAGE:
We have to take our anxiety to Jesus.
FOR YOUR PRAYER THIS WEEK: SCRIPTURE PASSAGES ABOUT ANXIETY AND TRUST
MONDAY: Matthew 11:28-30
INTRODUCTION
It's great to be back home in Louisiana. These early days back home have been filled with lots of grace ... and a little anxiety.
INTRODUCTION TO DAILY LIFE
WHERE DO WE SEE THIS IN THE SCRIPTURES?
In today's first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes we read: "For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:3)
CORE MESSAGE: THE HOMILY IN ONE SENTENCE
Where do we go with our anxiety?
THREE PRACTICAL EXAMPLES FROM DAILY LIFE
#1: We as individuals most often experience anxiety when we are overwhelmed or our future is unknown.
#2: Marriages and families most often experience anxiety when our sense of security or well-being is threatened.
#3: Church communities experience anxiety during change. For example, our parish family here at Christ the Redeemer is experiencing change. Their is a natural anxiety around new faces, new personalities, and the changes in the ways that new people do things. However, during seasons of change we often worry if there will more change than just the new people. In other words, there's a difference between change and changing things. Too much change, or worry that there will be too much change, can cause a lot of anxiety.
GOING DEEPER: WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK?
#1: Ask yourself: "Where does my anxiety come from?" What are the situations in your life right now that you are worried about?
#2: Ask yourself: "Where to I turn with my anxiety? Do I turn in or do I turn to God?" What's your pattern? Do you turn in yourself in self-reliance? Do you turn in on yourself and eventually feel overwhelmed and paralyzed? Or, do you turn toward God in relationship?
#3: Ask yourself: "What in my life is God asking me to hand over to Him? Where in my life is God asking me to trust in Him?" What are the specific situations, relationships, or problems that God is asking you to let Him into?
We have to take our anxiety to Jesus.
FOR YOUR PRAYER THIS WEEK: SCRIPTURE PASSAGES ABOUT ANXIETY AND TRUST
MONDAY: Matthew 11:28-30
TUESDAY: Matthew 14:22-33
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 8:23-27
THURSDAY: Jeremiah 29:11-14a
FRIDAY: Luke 12:24-32
SATURDAY: Read the readings for next weekend's Mass: click here for the readings
Recorded Sunday, August 4, 2013 at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Thibodaux, Louisiana. © Fr. Mark Toups, 2013
> Click here for more information about Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church
WEDNESDAY: Matthew 8:23-27
THURSDAY: Jeremiah 29:11-14a
FRIDAY: Luke 12:24-32
SATURDAY: Read the readings for next weekend's Mass: click here for the readings
Recorded Sunday, August 4, 2013 at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Thibodaux, Louisiana. © Fr. Mark Toups, 2013
