First reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm: Ps 95:1-2,6-9
Epistle:1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Brothers and sisters:
I should like you to be free of anxieties.

Anxiety:

Maria was beset by anxiety attacks. They progressed over time, but eventually became so severe she could no longer function, could no longer have a normal life. These attacks were debilitating, she felt constant fear, and her mind wandered through all the possibilities and probabilities that something terrible would happen. Not only would Maria feel anxiety, her anxiety was compounded because she knew something was wrong with her, and she feared that too.

The word anxiety is derived from the Latin word which literally means “to choke.”. Maria felt choked. She couldn’t acknowledge her fears so she could deal with them, she had no help, and she felt she had nowhere for her anxiety to go. Her breath was almost cut off.

Paul on anxiety:

St. Paul is addressing a group of questions posed by the church members, people like you and me, the early parishioners at Corinth saying that he would like them to be free from anxieties. St. Paul addressed the problem of anxiety with the parishioners at Philippi as well. He told them:

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Paul talked a lot about anxiety because it is real, something present in our lives, but which he knew we could be freed from.

1897:

There was a lot of anxiety in 1897. The people of Scranton had scrimped and saved to build a church. The parish they had built, that their generous donations supported, didn’t want them. They had been ejected from their former parish by a cruel pastor who demanded only obedience, who derided the hard working people, threatening them will hellfire. He sought only to be the lord and master of the people.

Think of their anxiety. They were outcasts, without a parish, without a pastor, without a spiritual home. Their investment in a spiritual home was gone and its doors were shut to them. In their anxiety they reached out to God and in doing so found comfort in a pastor, a shepherd who made the grace of God available once again. Not a pastor who demanded to be their lord and master, but a pastor who was their brother, teacher, and guide. A pastor whose heart was for the people.

The end of anxiety:

God sent Ś.P. Bishop Hodur to take their commission. He let them know the one key way to alleviate anxiety. It was not submission to priests, bishops, and a pope who defined themselves as royalty, as lords and masters, but instead knowledge of the one Lord and Savior who frees us.

Bishop Hodur showed them the true Jesus who came to give us His word, to teach us, to show us the way to the Father. He showed them that Jesus was not preparing hellfire for His people, but rather the joys of heaven. He pointed and led to Jesus who takes up every one of our anxieties, big and small, and frees us. Jesus, who promises us joy.

Today:

Today we stand on the foundation Bishop Hodur and those free men and women built. We are not slaves to lords and masters, to bishops and popes. We stand free with the knowledge and grace given through God’s word. Our priests, deacons, and bishops stand along side us, teaching us, working with us. Because we are free, no one can close our church, shut doors to us, take away our voice and vote, send us to hell, or tell us that God is not for us. God, working through history, has freed us from all those anxieties and has given us the light of His Holy Polish National Catholic Church.

Hezekiah:

In 2nd Kings we read of Hezekiah, the 14th king of Judah. His enemy, the Assyrian king, sent messengers with a letter. This letter is one of those that cause great anxiety. What did Hezekiah do? He went before the Lord and spread the letter out in front of God. Hezekiah did what what the Lord asks all of us to do, what St. Paul strongly encourages: put all anxieties before the Lord. St. Paul tells us that when we do that:

the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Reassurance:

Anxiety literally means to choke. When we choke our outlet is blocked. Anxiety does that when, like Maria, we see no out, when there is no place for troubles and anxieties to go. How terrible to be trapped, and bound.

But we, we are free. In our democratic Church, a true treasure among all the Churches, we stand with each other and support each other. Most of all, and best of all, we have a Father in heaven who loves us. No matter the anxiety, no matter problem, big or small, we can spread them out before Him. We are able to tell God of our anxieties because He is our outlet and our relief. He is our hope, He frees us.

Our God is the God of everything. We are able to have peace, because as St. Paul says, God will take all our anxiety away. Let us spread out our anxieties before God and trust that the God who gave us freedom and eternal life in Jesus, will free us of all anxiety. Nothing can truly harm or take away what Jesus has won for us. Amen.