Week of July 8, 2002
Debbie B.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?"
Psalm 27:1-7

According to the June 10, 2002, issue of Time magazine "now more than ever we are worrying ourselves sick."

On July 4th I went with a friend and two loved ones to see my son perform in the Philadelphia Independence Day Parade. As we sat on the curb waiting for the parade to begin, a large military cargo jet flew very low over the parade route. No one thought it was a military tribute. Everyone thought terror had come to Philadelphia. The crowd was completely silent, and that silence lasted until the sight and sound of that plane disappeared. Fear surrounded and engulfed me and I looked to the heavens and prayed that the possibility we were all imagining would not be a reality. Of course my fear was short lived, we had a wonderful day, and the plane apparently was part of the celebration.

When I was a girl my Mom would try to stop my worrying by quoting what her Mother always told her, "people who cross their bridges before they come to them have to pay the toll twice." I often repeat these words to myself when I find myself fretting about some worry in my life.

Jesus says "come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." As Christians we need to bring our list of fears and worries to the Lord. He does not want us to carry our burdens alone, He does not want us to pay the toll twice. He does not want us "worrying ourselves sick." He wants us to come into the shelter of his love so that we may receive his peace.

Heavenly Father help me to turn to you when I am worried or afraid, because I know that You alone will bring me that peace which is beyond my understanding. Amen

Contributed by Debra B.
Published Monday July 8, 2002
Week 32 of Liturgical Year A