Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (January 29, 2006)

Readings Dt 18: 15-20 Ps 95: 1-2, 6-7, 7-9 1 Cor 7: 32-35 Mk 1: 21-28

Suggested Emphasis

"I should like you to be free of all worries."

Salesian Perspective

"I should like you to be free of all worries."

Where do we sign up?

We can certainly appreciate Saint Paul's prayer this Sunday that we should "be free of all worries." Don't we all wish that we could be free of all worries? The truth is that all of us worry. There are things, situations and relationships about which we worry everyday. In some cases, we should worry if we didn't worry!

Worry is a part of life. Worry challenges us to respond to something in our lives that needs attention, to respond to something that needs to be addressed, to respond to something that needs to be examined and, where possible, achieved, remedied or, at least, improved. Of course, we also know from experience that many of the things for which we hope also rely upon the actions of others…including God.

The problem is that worry can turn into anxiety. While worry is usually focused upon specific issues, concerns, people or events, anxiety is a free-floating emotion that can cripple our ability to deal with the challenges of life. "Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall the soul, sin excepted," writes St. Francis de Sales. "Anxiety arises from an inordinate desire to be freed from the evil we experience or to acquire the good for which we hope. Yet, there is nothing which so aggravates the evil or impedes the good as anxiety"

Francis de Sales suggests that we should monitor our anxiety levels: "Consider whether your heart is under your control, or if it has escaped from your hands to entangle itself in some inordinate attachment of love, hatred, envy, avarice, fear, weariness or joy. If it has wandered, go after it and bring it back quite gently to the presence of God."

Of course, prevention is the best cure. "When you experience the beginning of anxiety, entrust yourself to God. Decide to do nothing of what your desire urges you until the anxiety has passed away completely, unless it is something that cannot be postponed. In such a case you must restrain and control the course of your desire with a gentle and peaceful effort. Above all, act reasonably, not emotionally."

May God preserve us from anxiety. May we center ourselves in the heart of a loving God as we embrace our daily ups, downs and everything in between. May God help us in our efforts to prevent moments of worry from becoming a way of life.

Rev. Michael S. Murray, OSFS is Executive Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center.