Look at the Birds in the Sky!

This last Sunday of Ordinary time is the perfect time to think about God’s care for all his creation. In the the first reading today God reminds the people of Israel and us that he will never forget us. This is further reinforced in today’s gospel, where Jesus exhorts us not to worry because God takes care of us. The message of the Gospel hit home today in a very real way. I was the cook and although it was a fairly simple meal, it always seems like there is not enough time. I kept being reminded to look at the birds in the sky they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them (Matt. 6: 26). “Why worry? God has everything under control,” I thought.

But of course, me being  the human being that I am, I quickly forgot. Suddenly, it was 9:45 AM, 15 minutes before Mass, and I had a large ball of bread dough in front of me that needed to be divided and formed into buns! Yikes! I started to worry! “How will I make it to mass and finish the buns?!” Just as I was finishing this thought, Sr. Gemma popped into the kitchen to see if I needed anything! “Yes, yes,” I replied. I took a breath as I recalled the end of the Gospel, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” Indeed even before we ask he knows what we need. Sr. Gemma and I finished the dividing the buns and forming them for their second rise in five minutes. I even had enough time to wash the dirty dishes and clean myself up before Mass!

I pray that both you and I can carry this lesson into our Lenten observances: remembering that God cares for us, won’t forget us and will provide for our needs.