STEP #1: LECTIO / READMatthew 6: 24-34 Jesus said to his disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” STEP #2: MEDITATIO / MEDITATEI remember the first time I ever saw wildflowers. I mean the pretty wildflowers that grow, in bright beautiful colors. I was driving to North Carolina to begin a summer internship. I knew no on there. I had no idea what I would be doing. I was freaking out. I was so nervous that entire car ride, it felt like I couldn’t breath. I was overwhelmed with anxiety over what the future would hold and I didn’t know where to turn. What would I say on my first day? What if there was a task I didn’t know how to do? What if no one liked me? And of course, what would I wear? But as my mom and I entered North Carolina, the mountains rose up around us. The sky was a beautiful and in the valley were these beautiful wildflowers. They were just growing all over the place. They were every color imaginable, purple, red, pink, white. Sometimes even blue and orange. When I saw the wildflowers, not just growing, but thriving. I knew I would be ok. All of my worries melted away and I had a moment of peace brought to me by the wildflowers. And as Jesus said, “Learn from the way the wild flowers grow.” I let go of my worries, and I had an amazing summer. I made new friends, explored a new place and my trust in God was able to grow. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is telling us not to worry. Why? Because worrying helps no one. It doesn’t solve our problems. It doesn’t make us feel better. In the end, it just makes us worry more. Jesus knows what is best for us. He wants what is best for us. Today’s Gospel is all about Jesus telling us how to live our life and what we need. The truth of it is we don’t know what we need but God does. God will provide for us. We just need to trust in Him. STEP #3: ORATIO / PRAY"Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself." What am I worried about? How can I give that worry to God? Do I trust that God will take care of me and my needs? STEP #4: CONTEMPLATIO / CONTEMPLATE"Learn from the way the wild flowers grow." "Jesus, I trust in you." "Jesus, I give you my worries." "Jesus, I believe you'll take care of me." FOR THE REST OF YOUR DAY...Write down three things you are worried about. Put them in an envelope and put the envelope in a safe place (like your Bible or journal). Revisit them in a week, two or a month to see how God has taken care of your worries. SMARTPHONE LOCK SCREEN  Today's prayer was prepared by Lisa Kendzior.
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