Philippians 04 4-7(2)

Phil 4:4-7 & Matthew 14:1-12      14 Dec 08 - 6pm (Advent 3)    

Always worried

There are lots of people who are always worrying. If they’re not worrying about what’s happened in the past, or what’s happening now, or what misfortunes might befall them in the future, they’re worrying about what they not remembering to worry about!

Yet we all of us know that no situation was ever made better by worrying about it!  In fact the very act of worrying, often distracts us from working out what we could do to make things better.  So actually, worrying isn’t just a waste of time, it’s a real misuse of time. So how are we to stop worrying -  especially if we’re habitual offenders?  Well, the answer says St. Paul is to pray: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Trust

We need to face up to those things we worrying about and analyse them… think for a moment, what do you tend to worry about?  You see it’s fairly easy to be generally worried about everything, without ever really sitting down and defining what exactly is the problem… … It’s only when we know what it is that’s making us frightened and worried, that we can take hold of the problem and place it into God’s hands… … because that’s the next step… and that’s what so many people find difficult, if not scary!

 We forget, as God’s children… we do have certain things that we’re supposed to do… and certain things that we’re to let God do…  and worrying isn’t one of things we have to do!  When I talk to people, so many times I have to remind them that the only person whose actions they’re responsible for is themselves (obviously and any children under a certain age they might have). Generally, a lot of people have to be reminded that they aren’t actually responsible for everything and everybody!  That’s God’s job… …   If you ask him to take charge of your future, he’ll either do something about the things that are swamping you…  or give you the strength to swim above them. Trust him. That’s the sort of God he is: what the Psalm calls the God of our Salvation.  

St. Paul wrote; No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Rejoice

In today’s reading, Paul’s coming to the end of his letter to the Philippians. He always wrote in Greek… and so where he might write Yours sincerely or All the best, the Greeks wrote, and still write, Rejoice. For Paul, this wasn’t just a conversational greeting. He wishes them not just ordinary joy, but he tells them to Rejoice in the Lord. Then they’ll know that (in the words of Mother Julian of Norwich) all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well. If we really get to grips with that piece of knowledge…  deep down, in here, then no matter how dark things get, there can be a deep… quiet… joyfulness that no one can take away, because we will know that no matter how dark the clouds seem overhead, we trust that they will pass and God’s light will shine again.

Prayer

Then Paul gives us a little lesson in prayer (v.6) when he writes: in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. It’s as though he’s diving our prayers into two types: prayer for other people, and supplication for ourselves… Make a list of the people you want to pray for, then try to imagine their feelings at present. Then lovingly ask God to give them what they most need. And finally ask God for what you yourself need. Mention the things you want, although often these are the things we don’t really need at all, whereas what we really need is God’s grace to transform us into Christ-like people. Ending with thanksgiving… being thankful for what we’ve received from God already… and often this puts everything else into perspective.

Peace

An Advent we think about the coming of Jesus… as a human infant… at our death…  and at the end of time. As Christian’s we’re called to think about these things with joy and trust, not worrying about them… An Eighteenth Century French novelist once wrote this… Death, my son, is a blessing for everybody; it’s the night which brings to an end this worrisome day that people call life.

As Christians though, we can be much more positive… for us death is the dawn of a new day. Death is the end of all worries, and the beginning of eternal life. Amen.