Carefree with Christ

THAT’S right! We can afford to be worry-free and as carefree as a bird if we only know how to be with Christ, trusting always in his unconditional love for us, his ever-merciful and wise providence over us.

Even in our worst predicaments, when we are beset with all sorts of problems that humanly speaking are already insoluble, we can still manage to be cheerful, calm and confident about our life. Christ takes care of everything. He knows exactly what to do. Even from evil things, he can derive some good.

Remember his reassurances. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16,33) “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt 28,20) “You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.” (Lk 21,18)

Still more: “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Lk 12,7) “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you.” (Is 49,15)

In many instances, he reassured his disciples not to be afraid of him when he would appear to them in some mysterious ways. He is always solicitous of our needs and compassionate.

We just have to know how to stick with him especially in our trying moments. Let’s do everything to live always in his presence and mindful of all his reassurances. Let’s always be humble enough to feel our constant need for him and to avoid feeling that we can just be all right by ourselves.

To be carefree with Christ is important to us since that is the ideal condition for us to be able to do a lot of things out of love for God and for others. Let’s remember that we are to develop that love, and that love has to be shown in deeds, not only in words and good intentions.

When we are carefree with Christ, we can do all kinds of things, even those which we feel we are not good at. When we are carefree with Christ, we can manage to face all sorts of trials and challenges, and enabled to handle them properly. We would know to cope with all the difficulties in life.

With Christ, things become doable or bearable, the impossible becomes possible. In this regard, he again assures us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” (Mt 11,28-30)

We should not allow ourselves to be dominated simply by our human doubts and fears. Christ is always around. He is always there for us. We need to discipline our feelings and emotions that often go on their own ways, without being directed by our faith.

This is the challenge we have, part of the self-denial that Christ is telling us to do. We need to listen to Christ rather than to the impulses of our instincts and emotions only or primarily, and even to the strong forces of the social and cultural trends around.

We need to see to it that at any given moment, we truly can feel that we are carefree—that is, carefree with Christ.