Do Not Worry!

Saturday, June 20, 2026

2 Chr 24: 17-25; Mt 6: 24-34

Today’s Gospel invites us to trust in God’s never-ending goodness and providence. 

In his preaching, Jesus repeatedly says, ‘Do not worry.’ He asks us not to worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear. But is it possible for an ordinary person who carries the responsibility to provide for the household not to worry at all? If so, does Jesus dismiss our daily run and grind as totally irrelevant and meaningless? Should we not worry about our future at all?

At first, Jesus’ words need careful understanding. Jesus does not say that we should not work for our food, clothing, or shelter. He only wants us not to become obsessed with them. Secondly, worrying in itself cannot be sinful. But when it makes us forget the goodness of God or lose sight of God’s providence for our lives, then it is sinful.

These clarifications help us reflect on Jesus’ message in three ways.

1. At first, Jesus invites us to trust in God’s providence. By asking us to look at the birds of the air and wild flowers of the fields, Jesus reminds us that there is God whose goodness and kindness exceed our expectations. Thus, spiritual maturity calls for deep trust in God’s providence, knowing that the God who provides will continue to care for us. 

2. Serving God requires a radical reordering of our priorities. Jesus’ teaching contains a valuable lesson. As long as ‘we’ handle money, we are its masters. But the moment ‘money’ starts handling us, we become its slaves. Serving God means placing God at the center of our lives with a ‘God-first’ attitude. Our undivided attention to God is a sign of our profound trust in Him.

3. Jesus underlines worry as a pagan attitude because those who are consumed by worry behave as if God does not exist. Therefore, whenever we worry excessively, we reveal the ‘pagan’ within us because we tend to behave as if everything solely depends on us. Moreover, worry is unhelpful because while it cannot add a single hour to extend our lifespan, it steals our peace of mind. Thus, a Christian response should always be trust, not anxiety. 

Let us pray that we may live each day of our lives with the confidence that God’s goodness never fails. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar