[0:00] No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to one and despise the other.
[0:13] Worship this morning to the Holy Gospel in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Throughout her history, the Church has had to confront numerous heresies.
[0:24] She must confront them, because heresies threaten the Church's life like little else can. They weave themselves into her life and choke off grace.
[0:40] A heresy that is weaving itself in, in our day, is the heresy of safety. In this morning's Gospel, Jesus helps us to confront it head on.
[0:55] The heresy of safety forfeits the benevolent care of God for the controlling care of the world's governmental, social, and financial institutions.
[1:06] When one falls into the heresy of safety, they begin to serve the master of this world. And he is a relentless taskmaster.
[1:16] For every bit of safety the world's institutions promise, a price is exacted, which robs the soul of grace.
[1:27] That price is filled with what we see in much of the Church today. Worry, anxiety, and fear. This unholy trinity of emotions is the enemy of faith.
[1:45] They bind the soul and obstruct Christians from living as Christ commands. They rob us of peace, joy, and confidence Jesus promises to his disciples.
[1:59] They cannot be given a foothold in our lives. And so this is why Jesus goes right at them in today's Gospel lesson. In St. Matthew 6, verse 25, Jesus says, Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life.
[2:18] This statement is an imperative. It is actually a preemptive command. When Jesus said it, he knew the Church in our day would be facing many unsettling things.
[2:32] And so right here and now, he says to each of us, do not worry. Not about our lives or for any of the things we need to sustain them.
[2:44] Food and drink, clothes and shelter, etc. Not about our health, not about our financial stability. Certainly not about all the unnecessary stuff we accumulate and allow the world to convince us is necessary.
[3:00] Now does this mean we should be foolish or careless about such things? Of course not. But we, as Jesus' disciples, must not become worried, anxious, or fearful about them.
[3:15] We need to let them rest in God's hands. In St. Matthew 16, verse 25, Jesus says, For whoever desires to save his life will lose it.
[3:30] But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Do you know who does worry? Who becomes anxious and fearful about these things?
[3:42] In verse 32 of the lesson, Jesus says, It's the Gentiles. It's the unbelievers that do. We should not be like them.
[3:52] We are disciples of Jesus Christ. So why should we be seeking what unbelievers seek? And many Christians do. In verse 27 of the lesson, Jesus adds, Which of you, by worrying, can add one cubit to his stature?
[4:10] The primary meaning of that word stature is length to life, Not height to the body. Jesus says no one can extend their life by a single moment, By worrying about them.
[4:24] Yet today, many Christians join the Gentiles in doing just that. They become encumbered by worry, anxiety, and fear, And in their desperation, Become susceptible to the heresy of safety.
[4:43] Fear is not part of man's created nature. It is part of the curse of the fall. We inherit it in our fallen birth nature. But 1 John 4, 18 states, The perfect love of Christ casts out fear.
[4:59] As we abide in his love, fear is overcome. 1 Timothy 1, 7 states that in Christ, We are not given a spirit of fear, But the power to overcome it, By love and a sound mind.
[5:15] Now, of course, this doesn't mean we will never feel fear. It means we don't need to allow it to paralyze us, Or cause us to succumb to unreasonable thinking.
[5:31] Throughout the Gospels, Whenever Jesus' disciples give them to worry, anxiety, or fear, He confronts it immediately. Here's one example. In St. Matthew 8, verses 23-27, Jesus and the Twelve were in a boat on the Sea of Galilee, When a fierce storm arose.
[5:51] As Jesus slept, The apostles panicked. Verse 25 and 26 states, His disciples came to him, And awoke him, saying, Lord, save us!
[6:02] We are perishing! But he said to them, Why are you fearful, O you of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, And there was a great calm.
[6:17] Jesus confronted the apostles' fears. He does the same in our lives. But brothers and sisters, Jesus doesn't promise us safety in this world.
[6:32] In St. Matthew 5, verse 45, He says, It reigns on the just and the unjust equally. In St. John 16, verse 33, He says, In this world we will have tribulations, But to be of good cheer, For he has overcome them all, And we are now in him.
[6:57] He taught, A servant is no greater than his master. The servant's greatest hope Is to be as his master. Our master did not live a life of safety.
[7:10] He was subject to illness and injury. He was persecuted and he suffered. He escaped death many times Because his hour had not yet come.
[7:22] And when his hour came, He was crucified. Are we greater than he? There's a preemptive strike we must take Against the worry, fear, and anxiety That leads to the heresy of safety.
[7:39] It is given in Philippians chapter 4, verses 6 and 7, Where St. Paul writes, Be anxious for nothing, But in everything, By prayer and supplication, With thanksgiving, Let your requests be made known to God.
[7:56] And the peace of God, Which surpasses all understanding, Will guard your hearts and minds Through Christ Jesus. In order to steer clear of the heresy of safety, We must live a life of prayer That includes supplication, Which is prayer that takes our eyes off of ourselves And directs them to the needs of others.
[8:22] And also our prayers must include thanksgiving, Which demonstrates our gratefulness That all of our needs Are met by God alone.
[8:34] As we fervently and persistently pray in this manner, The Holy Spirit will put a garrison Around our hearts, Around our emotions, And around our minds, Around our thinking, And protect them From being overwhelmed by worry, Anxiety, And fear.
[8:51] As our minds are stayed on Christ, He will keep us In perfect peace. In Philippians 4.8, St. Paul adds one more thing To this preemptive strike.
[9:07] He states, Finally, brethren, Whatever things are true, Whatever things are noble, Whatever things are just, Whatever things are pure, Whatever things are lovely, Whatever things are of good report, If there is any virtue, And if there is anything praiseworthy, Meditate on these things.
[9:30] How much time do we spend Listening to and watching The television news, Or reading news sites And emails about the news? How much time do we spend Reading scripture?
[9:42] Or reading and listening to things That teach us the Catholic faith? Which of these two Do we do most often? What is the ratio?
[9:54] Or what type of conversations Do we have with family, Friends, And fellow Christians? Are they more about The world events And politics And all that's going on? Than the life and hope We have in Christ?
[10:08] Ephesians 5.19 and 20 states, We should be speaking To one another In psalms and hymns And spiritual songs Giving thanks always For all things to God the Father In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[10:22] How often do we do Any of these? How often do we Just complain? What do we spend our time Thinking on?
[10:34] Meditating on? The news cycles On CNN or Fox Or Psalms 56 and 57 Which are prayers For trustfulness What do scripture say We are to meditate on?
[10:48] Now I'm not advocating Burying our heads in the sand But I am asking If our hearts and minds Are fixed upon The kingdom of God Or on this world As our hope In Christ the King Or in the results Of the next election cycle As our comfort Based on today's stock report Or the unchangeable scriptures As our confidence Found in trusting the science Or in the sacramental life As our peace Rooted in Christ And the life of his church Or in the institutions Of this world And the actions Of its schizophrenic leadership How we answer These questions show If we are sliding Towards the heresy Of safety Our brothers and sisters We should count ourselves Blessed That we live in a time
[11:48] When the lines Are now so clearly drawn The world Is laying down The gauntlet It is forcing us To choose our master Will we serve The true master Jesus Christ Within his holy church Or the taskmaster Satan Within the institutions Of the world We cannot serve both Neither master Neither master Will allow it Jesus The true master Requires our patient Suffering in this life And the promise Of eternal life With him in heaven Satan The taskmaster Requires our sedated Submission to safety In this life And the promise Of ruin and hell In the life to come We must be capable Of making real time Decisions And determine Who we will serve In the midst Of the turmoil We live in today But let us not
[12:51] Be deceived The heresy of safety Chokes grace From our souls It is incapable Of delivering What it promises So let us hear And obey the command Of Jesus proclaimed In today's gospel lesson Do not worry And then serve him As our one And only master In the name of the Father In the Son And of the Holy Ghost Amen