“So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. (Matthew 6:34)
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples not to worry about their life and what they are to eat, nor about their body and how they are to clothe it. He assures them that God is a loving and faithful Father who will provide for all their needs when they set their hearts on his kingdom first. God freely provides for every aspect of our lives too when we place all our hope and trust in him. When we trust in him we can experience the fullness of life that he wants to give us. He is a God of love who loves us unconditionally just as we are, and invites us into a personal relationship with him so that we can experience the joy of knowing him and the great love he has for us.
We are never alone on our journey of faith, Emmanuel – God is with us, and knowing this reality does make a difference. From the very moment we were conceived he has called us his beloved children, he loves us unconditionally and never abandons us. His goodness and providence has no limits and we can experience a way of life that upholds the beauty of authentic love by following him. In prayer we can share with him about our lives just as we would with any friend, in the sacraments he reveals himself to us in all his glory through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and by gathering together as a community of faith through the church we are in communion with him and one another.
In my own life whenever I have trusted in God’s providence I have experienced so much joy and peace in return. An example of this was my decision to spend nine months at the Emmanuel School of Mission in Rome. It was a big step in my life which I knew I couldn’t make on my own, but when I trusted completely in God and asked for his guidance and support to help me, he provided for every aspect. My time at the school was a wonderful and blessed experience which helped me to let go of my human struggles and focus on living in the present moment with an attitude of gratitude for all I’ve been given in life. I have also learned to trust more in God’s providence by being part of the Emmanuel Community. I have experienced God’s love in a tangible way through my brothers and sisters and have been challenged to bring that love to others through the graces of adoration, compassion and evangelisation. Being part of a community with married and single people, consecrated sisters and brothers, as well as priests is a great support on the journey of faith for Emmanuel, God is truly with us and his love and generosity is never outdone.
