Are our hearts tired? We are called to wake up!
Paul exhorts us that "it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed" (cf. Rom. 13:11).
We risk getting caught up in earthly things. The "anxieties of daily life" can make our hearts tired. From there, we often progress to "carousing and drunkenness". We typically try to self-medicate our daily anxieties in one way or another. We all do it to some degree.
If we are too caught up in daily anxieties we are unable to be "vigilant at all times". When we are tired we forget to pray that we "have the strength ... to stand before the Son of Man" because there are other things for which we desire strength even more. We are trying to stand before the idols that impose this anxiety on us rather before the Son of Man.
We are allowed to have other small things which are worthy of anxiety. But instead of actually having anxiety about them we must turn them all over to Jesus. This prevents them from becoming idols. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God". When we do this our hearts do not grow weary because "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (cf. Phi. 4:6-7).
We need to expose all of our concerns to the light of Jesus. We're afraid to do it. We don't even want to look at the concerns with a steady gaze ourselves. We don't want everyone else to see them. We don't have it all together. We aren't perfect Christians. We care about things way more than they merit. We serve idols. But Jesus cares about us enough to care about the things we care about. Honestly, "every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" (cf. Jam. 1:17). They only become idols when they are separated from their source. They can only remain idols when we don't bring them to Jesus. "But everything exposed by the light becomes visible--and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you"" (cf. Eph. 5:13-14).
How do we avoid the anxieties of daily life? Give them up to Jesus! "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares about you" (cf. 1 Pet. 5:7). He is the "life-giving water". He is therefore the source of our life. He is ths source of healing because "these trees serve as medicine". He is taking us to a place where "Nothing accursed will be found" and "his name will be written on their foreheads". Gazing upon his face we finally know the fullness of peace.
We long to come before the one who made the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. He is the LORD of all and he is big enough to manage it. Instead of keeping our anxieties to ourselves and letting them wear us down we pray, "Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!"
We can't wait to do this. If we wait we are constantly caught off guard by life "like a trap". The time is now: "the night is advanced, the day is at hand" (cf Rom. 13:12). Let us awaken! "Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn" (cf. Psa. 57:8).
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