Week of SeptEMBER 13, 2026

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

Worry is part of life. We worry about our families, our health, our work, our finances, and the future. Some anxiety can even be helpful because it alerts us to problems and encourages us to act responsibly. Scripture also reminds us that not every kind of fear is unhealthy. Moses, Mary, and the disciples all experienced fear in the presence of God. There is a holy fear that teaches humility and reminds us that God is God and we are not.

But there is another kind of fear that can begin to rule our lives. It convinces us that everything depends upon us, that we must control every outcome, and that we need to solve tomorrow’s problems today. Jesus speaks directly to this kind of anxiety when he tells us to consider the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. He is not telling us to be careless or irresponsible. Rather, he asks us where our deepest trust is placed. We can plan wisely while still recognizing that ultimately our lives rest in the hands of God.

Christian trust does not mean believing that nothing painful will happen or that everything will turn out exactly as we hope. The Cross itself prevents us from making such a promise. Instead, faith tells us that suffering, uncertainty, failure, and even death cannot place us beyond the reach of God. Jesus entrusted himself to the Father even when the path before him led through suffering. Saint Paul likewise found his security not in appearances or achievements but in the Cross of Christ.
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Perhaps this is why the words of the Our Father are so important: “Give us this day our daily bread.” We ask God for the grace we need today. We do not need enough grace this morning to carry every burden we may face years from now. We need the grace to take the next faithful step. May God give us the courage to do what we can, the humility to surrender what we cannot control, and the faith to trust that whatever tomorrow brings, we will not face it alone.
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Peace,
Rev. Ben