The sermon on the Mount has a section on ‘cure for anxiety’ (Mat6: 25-34) This is a consolidated teaching of Jesus of Nazareth on this theme.
Since the spread of the pandemic of COVID 19 widely into the nook and corners in India, the level of anxiety among people has reached an alarming proportion. It is worth meditating on responding to anxiety in the light of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Most of us have a physiological response of anxiety. Our heart rate would go up when we face an interview or when getting ready for an examination. There is an anxiety state which is more than this. Ever since I was late at the airport and missed a flight in 1984, I have a tendency to go to the railway station or air-port well ahead of time, which annoys others. Although it is less intense now, sometimes I am overtaken by this earlier habit. Then there are anxiety disorders such as: General Anxiety Disorder, Social anxiety, Specific Phobia, Panic disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is this group of disorders which would need attention and treatment with professionals guiding the process through therapy and personal upbuilding.
This passage ( Mat6: 25-34) has an:
Introduction
5 Metaphors
Conclusion
Introduction
The passage starts with the phrase, ‘For this reason, I say to you..’(Mat 6:25). What is this reason? The passage before this section, makes the reason clear. ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, where thieves break in and steal. But lay up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys where thieves do not break in and steal’ (Mat.6:19-20). What follows on, is: ‘For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also’ which sums up the reason why Jesus began with such an introduction. It is when we treasure or acquire things which have a passing value or transitory dimension, we tend to be preoccupied withe pleasures derived form them. Those pleasures are addictive that we tend to seek more of them and yet not find enough satisfaction to stay content. When what we have laid our attention on, has moved away from us or is no more within our reach, one can get carried away by a sense of loss or disappointment. That often is the seed of anxiety.
Larry Crabb, in his book, The pressure’s off-there is a new way to live’ suggested that there are two laws of behaviour which govern our conduct- Law of linearity and Law of liberty.
It is the Law of linearity, which makes us move from A to B, C to D, etc. Jesus in the earlier passage suggested that it is from where the treasure is, all other actions proceed. If our treasure is in heaven, we behave restfully, prudently and circumspectly. Instead if our treasure is on things in the earth, then we are lured by position, recognition, popularity and success, for which we struggle aggressively and desperately. The law of linearity calls for choosing wisely in order to be chosen.
The attitude of Zaccheus illustrates this well. While Zaccheus was waiting on the top of a tree, to see Jesus, when Jesus passed by, he saw Jesus look up and call him by name, ‘Zaccheus, hurry, and come down, for today, I must stay at your house’ (Luk 19.5). He hurried to come down and took Jesus home gladly. It was a symbolic of stepping down from his high horse of wealth, position, power and control. Zaccheus had to be willing to have earthly pleasures replaced by what Jesus had to offer. What Jesus offered was salvation for him and his household, when he confessed to give away his riches to the poor and return fourfold to those whom he had defrauded. Zaccheus had to choose between his earthly treasures and something different Jesus had to offer. Zaccheus had to ‘choose to be chosen’. It is an ongoing choice all of us have to make once we are on a pilgrim journey after Jesus of Nazareth
The second law, the Law of Liberty frees people from anxious striving after things which fade away. The pressure to seek after things of lesser value, is not at work in such a life of freedom. I remember hearing about the ‘Miraj Five’ from late Dr A.K.Thrien. That was a group of students at Miraj Medical College, in the mid nineteen forties, who used to meet pray regularly. That was the time of the pre-independent India. These five people knew that after independence, there would be a great need for health professionals to go to rural parts of India as any organised health care was non-existent in rural India at that time. I have had occasions to meet three out of those five. Drs Tharien and Jacob Cherian moved to Oddanchatram in Tamil Nadu to start the Christian Fellowship Hospital and Dr Abrahm went to Rajnandgaon in Madhya pradesh to start the Christian Fellowship Hospital there.
Having heard their stories of how they decided to choose differently from many others who sought for better opportunities for themselves, it was evident that these doctors were followers of Jesus. This gave them freedom to choose their future thinking of others and their needs. They were not prisoners of personal pursuit of success. They were free to lend their lives in the service of others, because they had a pilgrim heart. They found the words of Jesus, ‘Come and follow me’ as a good enough reason to trust Him for their lives and provisions.
Five Metaphors
First Metaphor. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? (v.25). God formed us in our mother’s womb and we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14 ) Food and clothing are the needs for our body to live a social life. But food and clothing are not the whole of life. However, searching and finding the best of the resources to meet these existential needs take most of our attention. It is when we feel responsible to fend for ourselves, we become driven by that passion.
I remember once hearing from Mrs Mariamma Tharien her journey out of her occupation with the cares of existential needs when she relocated herself after marriage at Oddanchatram. She wondered how she would take care of all the existential needs of the family with a meagre allowance from the Christian Fellowship. One day she was on her way to the market to purchase provisions. She noticed two children asking her alms. She felt sad when she found out that they did not go to school and lived in the street, begging. That opened her eyes to greater needs of others. This helped her to feel less stressed about her own financial strains. But it did not end there. She along with her husband, decided to welcome some children living in the streets, to come to their home on Sunday afternoons to spend time with them. They played games with them, offered a place to bathe, provided a good meal and spent time to listen to them. They dispersed after prayer. That prayer scened was moving. The children held each others hands, while Dr and Mrs Tharien stood in the circle holding children's hands. I remember watching this on a few occasions. The children took a while after prayer to let go of their hands. It looked a solemn occasion when children felt received, blessed and enabled to go on for one more week. The Thareins did everything possible to get the children back to school. Even after this weekly get together Mrs Tharien would help them to free them from substance abuse, to teach a skill to get them employed part time for them to earn enough to live as most of them had left home or sent out of their homes. This helped many children to accept responsibility for their future.
While she was narrating this story to me, a young man came to greet her with a basketful of fruits. He was one of those whom they welcomed to their foster family and helped to complete schooling. He set up a shop of his own and lived in another village with his family. He was still returning the loan given to him to set up the shop. Mrs. Tharien went on to complete the story. Ever since that day when she became aware of the needs of others, her desire to have more never returned to her. It was in her home I stayed when I used to visit the hospital to help medically when I was at Chennai. I watched her hospitality at close quarters. She overflew with grace and kindness.
It is God who shall supply all our needs. So food and clothing shall recede to the background.
Second metaphor. Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into the barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them (v26).
This is the miracle of provision. The Barbets who live in our garden feed on the papaya, guava, custard apple, banana, etc. The other birds like Magpie Robins, Myna, Sunbirds, Tailor birds, etc have enough food in our garden. Th fact that all of them almost daily visit our garden suggests that they find some food in our garden.
God provides in unnatural ways. The prophet has this to say: ‘Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child, break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed. For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of married woman’ (Isa 54:1,2).
We need no more evidence as the birds to testify to God’s provision.
Third Metaphor. Which of you can add a single cubit to his life span? (v.27). There is a limit to our stretchability and physical and inner resilience. Why make worry as a companion in our inner life! We worry about the existential things a lot. Both Anna and I have come to our retiring age and will be out of the present work at the MOSC Medical College shortly. As we have no retirement benefits, we wonder how we would manage, after we finally retire!
I am reminded of what happened in 1983, when we were ready to set out to start the Christian charity, ASHIRVAD, Christian Concern for Child Care. We were at the Christian Fellowship Hospital, Oddanchatram for a year in preparation for this new initiative. We had no savings or any promise of support. The thoughts of anxiety took roots in our consciousness, when we were nearer to November 1983, the time we had fixed to go to Chennai to start the work of Child Development Centre. Two months prior to this, Mr K,M.Cherian, a senior laboratory technologist, visited us to wish us for our new initiative. He prayed for us and left with us a gift of one hundred rupees from the meagre allowance he was receiving from the hospital. That gift became a symbol to us of God’s indication to us about the provisions He would bring into our lives in the years to come.
From 1983 to 1997, when we were at Chennai, the expenditure exceeded thirtyfive million rupees, which were all looked after on time. There was no occasion when we had to wait for meeting any of the needs of the Child Development Centre at Chennai, Early Learning Centre at Nagpur or the special school we partnered with St Andrew’s Church, Egmore, Chennai to develop. When ASHIRVD was invited by the Christian medical College, Vellore to start the first Developmental Paediatrics Unit in any Medical College in India, ASHIRVAD was able to give a large gift to CMC to build the ASHIRVAD floor for the department and the Hall of Residence, a short-term residential facility for children. Looking back over those 14 years at Chennai, we recall how the habit of prayer and the network of friendships were fostered by those who cared for us from within India and overseas. It is not anxiety which takes us forward, but restful waiting for God’s time and ways.
Fourth Metaphor. Observe how the lilies of the field grow, they do not toil or spin (v 28). During one visit to Israel during a springtime, Anna and I had noticed the wide expanse of hills and valleys carpeted with scarlet poppies and anemones. These flowers when dried would be gathered for putting into the furnace to keep the community oven ready for domestic use. During their brief life, the flowers were adorned with beauty which surpassed the elegance of the robes which the kings wore. If flowers which had a short life had so much beauty, how much more would God adorn the humans, who are the crown of His creation! God is our giver and provider. However, He gives and provides according to His good plans for us and not to satisfy all the longing we carry in our lives.
An unknown American soldier, who was paralysed during the Civil War penned the following poem:
I asked for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak that I might obey;
I asked for health that I might do great things,
I was given infirmity that I might do better things;
I asked for riches that I might be happy,
I was given poverty that I might be wise;
I asked for power that I might have praise of men
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God;
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things;
I have received nothing I asked for
But I am given all that I needed!
(taken from the book,Waiting by Ben Peterson, page 148).
Martin Luther once said: ’We ask for silver, but God gives us Gold, instead’.
Fifth Metaphor. All these the gentiles seek after-what shall we eat; what shall we drink; what shall we clothe ourselves with (v31). I understand from the commentators that gentiles in this context refers to those who do not believe in God. Faith in God would involve letting go into God’s keeping what we cannot keep or hold on to.
I like to watch the Trapez artist in the circus. There are the fliers and the catchers in this item of performance. The flier would be swinging in his swing, while the catcher would be swinging in his swing. At one occasion, the catcher would calp the hands. Instantly the flier would let go of his swing and jump towards the catcher to be caught by his both hands. In that instance of few seconds the flier is safe in the catcher’s hold till he lets go for the flier to shift back to his swing. I have not seen any flier hesitating to let go or a catcher failing to catch. This has become a symbol of faith to me. It is in letting go, one is held and made safe.
For Anna and myself, the security of the swing of our material resources would soon be over. It is our time to trust the One who holds our future!
When we feel anxious, we are reminded of the story of Martha and Mary. Jesus exhorted Martha from being worried and complemented Mary for choosing the one thing of staying tuned to God.
Conclusion
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you (v33). The recommendation for the art of living, comes in verse 34: Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow; tomorrow will care for itself.
A London doctor, had this advice to his son when he was leaving home to go to college: ‘Johny, the thing to do, my lad, is to hold your own end up, and to do like a gentleman and please remember the biggest troubles you have got to face are those that would never come’. That is why it is a folly to live anxious about tomorrow.
A German mystic, Tauler met a beggar and blessed him by saying: ‘God give you a good day, my friend’. The beggar answered, ‘I thank God, I never had a bad day’. Tauler replied: ‘God give you a happy life, my friend’. The beggar replied, ‘I thank God, I am never unhappy’. Tauler in amazement said: ‘What do you mean!’ Beggar: ‘Well, when it is fine, I thank God, when it rains, I thank God, when I have plenty, I thank God, when I am hungry I thank God, and since God’s will is my will and whatever pleases Him pleases me, why should I be unhappy!’ Tauler looks at the beggar in astonishment and asked him, ‘Who are you!’ Beggar replied: ‘I am a king’. Tauler: ‘Where is your kingdom!’ Beggar replied: In my heart.
The Prophet said long ago, ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth thee’ (Isa.26:3). St Paul had found a reason for his self-composure amidst many difficulties he faced in his life. ‘I know how to get along with humble means and I also know, how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need’ (Phil 4:12). It is this experience and confidence which made him confess, ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God’ (Phil.4.6)
There is an antidote to anxiety. Julia McGuinnes, in her book, Making the most of mid-life, Christian choices and growth, quoted her own poem:
Some people travel in straight lines
Some in metal boxes, eyes ahead,
Always mindful of their target
Moving in obedience to coloured lights and white lines
Mission accomplished, journey’s end
Some people travel round in circles
Trudging in drudgery, eyes looking down
Knowing only too well their daily unchanging round,
Moving in response to clock and to habit,
Journey never finished, yet never begun.
I want to travel in patterns of God’s making
Walking in wonder, gazing all around,
Knowing my destiny, though not my destination,
Moving to the rhythm of the surging of His spirit
A journey which when life ends, in Christ has begun.
As humans we are anxiety-prone. We encounter ourselves drawn by anxiety at unexpected times, when we are least ready to let go. Our circumstances are outside our control. It is this Jesus in this discourse brought to the attention of all who want to live restfully. Trusting God is also a journey in faith. The uncertainties we face are more of our attitude than just a physical reality. The discourse of Jesus on anxiety is a passage we can return to, to find inner strength, whenever we are facing the burden of anxiety.
M.C.Mathew (text and photo of rose plant and flower, and Barbet) Images from internet sites with grateful acknowledgement )
No comments:
Post a Comment