Those that remember the phrase, “What, me worry?”, like me, are showing our age. That was the motto of Alfred E. Neuman, the cover icon from Mad Magazine dating back to the 1950’s. Wow, have times changed?
This past week a Word On Fire Show episode featuring Bishop Robert Barron stated: “A recent article in The Atlantic highlights the crisis of isolation befalling the United States. Americans have never been—or felt—more solitary, especially the younger generations. And the consequences are often fatal: loneliness is a major cause of the recent spikes in depression, anxiety, and suicide, which are at unprecedented levels.” I will put the link for this episode at the bottom of this post.
What is behind this disturbing trend? According to authors Gress and Mering in their book, Theology of Home II, “Worrying appeals to us because it gives us a sense that we are in control of what might happen – that by thinking through what could happen, we could somehow stave off potential harm or damage … but we can often take it to an extreme, leading to decision making based on fear and anxiety rather than balance and trust.” I wonder if that desire to be in control is not at the root of the issue.
From the Judeo-Christian perspective, God’s laws and commandments ask things of us that are difficult, maybe even impossible to achieve on our own – so we struggle to maintain control, and we worry. When anxious, our decisions often become fear-based as the article quoted above suggests, putting us into a negative spiral.
Instead of reacting with fear and anxiety, God wants us to trust in Him and reach out to Him for the help we need in keeping those commandments. He wants us to deal with the adversities of life, following the example of the saints, many of whom had difficulties of their own to deal with, but still persevered – St. Paul comes to mind or Maximillian Kolbe or Mother Teresa.
Not a saint? Then we need to humbly recognize that we cannot do it on our own. We humans are built for community. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states this assertion beautifully:
Christians of the first centuries said, “The world was created for the sake of the Church.” God created the world for the sake of communion with his divine life, a communion brought about by the “convocation” of people in Christ, and this “convocation” is the Church.
– Catechism of the Catholic Church – CCC 760
Today, with so many rejecting the Church and religion in general, spending more time on social media at the altar of the smartphone, the increase in loneliness begins to make sense. But with the power and grace of the Holy Spirit we can avoid that; or certainly we can try, which is what He wants to see – and that perseverance will generate even more grace and connection with kindred spirits.
We pray to be able to do what we can, what is needed to help ourselves and to help others. This lesson is seen in the persistence of the Canaanite woman asking Jesus to heal her daughter and how she persevered in asking for God’s mercy. Because of her undaunted trust in the Lord, she was rewarded with her daughter being healed (Matthew 15:21-28).
Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
– Matthew 15:28
Worrying serves no purpose but the devil’s, who is all about planting doubt, whereas trust renders worry pointless. Peace follows where trust leads, rendering all things possible with God (Matthew 19:23-26).
A quote I recently came across from St. Bonaventure (Doctor of the Catholic Church) seems to fit here nicely:
Three things are necessary to everyone: truth of faith which brings understanding, love of Christ which brings compassion, and endurance of hope which brings perseverance.
– St. Bonaventure
Faith, love, hope – These themes are certainly pervasive in Scripture. Taking each statement a step further suggests what might be missing in today’s culture, leading to the unprecedented rise in loneliness, depression, and anxiety – trust in knowing that there is more to our story than what has us worried today. Is it any surprise then that, at the same time this is happening, secularism is running rampant?
Faith –> Understanding –> Knowing God.
Love –> Compassion –> Knowing & living God’s will.
Hope –> Perseverance –> Knowing we are meant for an eternity with God.
Hope is what gets us up in the morning; perseverance helps us fight through the trials and loneliness to bring the message of the Gospel to others through acts of compassion. Christian hope and perseverance remind us that we are playing the long game, and the stakes don’t get any higher than eternity.
Reflection questions:
- Here is the link to the Word On Fire Show episode referenced above, “Healing Antisocial America:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzh88wb0B1c
- What makes you worry or feel anxious? Sometimes identifying the source, naming it, can help ease the negative spiral of anxiety. Check out this article, “Name It to Tame It,” for some helpful ideas: https://mindfulness.com/mindful-living/name-it-to-tame-it
- If/When you feel like giving up, what helps you to persevere? Where does prayer figure in that for you? Do you have a “go to” prayer or Scripture passage that helps you to persevere? Feel free to share it so that it might help others in this community.
Scripture References
Matthew 15:21-28, 19:23-26
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