March 6, 2009
The Second Half
Letting go for Lent
BY DEACON JIM AND ANN CAVERA
“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34
Though not part of this Sunday’s gospel reading, the verse above from Matthew offers very good advice. By the time we reach the second half of life, most of us have developed a good measure of trust in the Lord. We’ve gotten through enough hard times to know trouble won’t last and we will survive. Our generation has felt a responsibility to work hard and we’ve tried to do the right thing by our families, our friends and our faith. Still, when times get difficult, we worry because, as people who feel responsible for things, that’s what we think we’re supposed to do.
When we hear about Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain in this Sunday’s Old Testament reading, we can’t help but think about the turmoil that must have been in his heart. How could he deny life to his son? How could he remain true to God? Trusting, step after step he climbed the mountain without being able to make sense of God’s plan. His heart must have been sick with fear over what he believed he was being asked to do. In the end, along with Abraham, we discover a God of life, a God who sacrifices for us, a one who asks Abraham (and us) to trust because he is a God of restoration not a God of destruction. Still, Abraham must have been a very worried father on the trip up the mountain.
In the reading from Romans, St. Paul asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Perhaps one of the greatest gifts of the second half of life is a growing ability to rest in Christ; to be at peace regardless of what happens around us. We become more certain that whatever does happen will be temporary, even though when we see how things are we still have some worry. That’s only human nature. In faith we just keep putting one foot in front of the other on the way up the mountain. By now we’ve walked with Christ long enough to know though things are bad and might get worse, God’s ultimate plan for us is life.
Through the Transfiguration, Mark reassures us glory and power beyond anything we can imagine wait at the top of the mountain. At the Transfiguration Calvary still stood between Jesus and the resurrection. Peter, James and John couldn’t stay on the summit, but through them we have a glimpse of glory beyond our broken world. That reassurance helps us let go of worry that can cloud our hearts and trouble our sleep.
Most of us try to give up something for Lent. Giving up candy, or meat, or television may help us focus on spiritual things. On the other hand, worry might be one of the most difficult and yet most meaningful things we can let go of for Lent. By the time Easter comes, trust could become our way of life.
Deacon Jim and Ann Cavera are former residents of Evansville; their award-winning column is a regular feature of the Message. Contact them at www.catholicseniorspirit.com.