A WORD FROM THE PASTOR

Stress… Stress...

A few years ago, The Comprehensive Care Corporation of Tampa, Florida published a booklet about stress in our modern world. The facts are disturbing. (1) One out of four (that’s 25% of Americans) suffers from mild to moderate depression, anxiety, loneliness and other painful symptoms which are attributed mainly to stress. (2) Four out of five adult family members see a need for less stress in their daily lives. (3) Approximately half of all diseases can be linked to stress-related origins, including ulcers, colitis, bronchial asthma, high blood pressure and some forms of cancer. (4) Unmanaged stress is a leading factor in homicides, suicides, child abuse, spouse abuse and other aggravated assaults. (5) The problem of stress is taking a tremendous toll economically, also.

Americans are now spending 64.9 billion dollars a year trying to deal with the issue of stress. That is why Jesus shared the Good News with us a long time ago when he said: “Come to me all of you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matt 11: 28).
  
During the U. S. Independence Day celebrations you will hear all or part of the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free… Send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me.”

Pope St. John XXIII during the Second Vatican Council days used to submit all his anxieties to God by this prayer every night: “Lord, Jesus, I’m going to bed. It's your Church. Take care of it!”

Jesus lays the light burden of his commandment of love on us and yokes us with himself, giving us his strength through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is also interested in lifting off our backs the burdens that suck the life out of us, so that he can place around our necks his own yoke that brings to us and to others through us, new life, new energy, and new joy. We are called, not only to find peace, refreshment, and rest for ourselves, but also to live the kind of life through which others, too, may find God's peace, God's refreshing grace, and the joy of placing their lives in God's hands.

Are you ready to ease your stress? Jesus is the answer.