asleep with anxiety?
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.” —Luke 21:34-35, RNAB
Jesus connects two very different things in today’s Gospel passage: drowsiness and anxieties (Lk 21:34, RNAB). Generally, anxiety would seem to be associated with sleeplessness rather than drowsiness. Cares and worries tend to keep us awake rather than lull us to sleep. Yet Jesus, in His wisdom, links anxiety with spiritual slumber. He classifies anxiety as a drug that blinds us to the need for spiritual preparation.
When Jesus told the parable of the soil and the Word of God, He specifically classified the third type of soil as choked off by the “anxieties over life’s demands” and “it bears no yield” (Mk 4:19). Anxiety over daily cares does not lead to spiritual preparation; rather, anxiety leads to spiritual paralysis and stupor in the same way as does drunkenness (Lk 21:34). Anxiety, like fear, is the opposite of faith, and “fear is useless. What is needed is trust” (Mk 5:36).
“Dismiss all anxiety from your minds” (Phil 4:6). Trust God to supply your needs (Mt 6:25-34; Phil 4:19). Be still and know that He is God (Ps 46:11).
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to end this Church year by trusting You as does a little child (Ps 131:2).
Promise: “Happy the man who heeds the prophetic message of this book!” —Rv 22:7
Praise: Linda accepted the Holy Spirit’s gift of prophecy, and now uses it to lead others to intercede for the world.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
(Advent begins tomorrow. Help prepare your heart for Christmas by reading the book of Isaiah. View, order, or download our leaflet An Isaiah Advent on our website.)
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from October 1, 2022, through November 30, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 3, 2022
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.