Living The Worthy Life: Priorities, Fath, and Panic In Our Troubled Times

“He has mercy on those who fear Him, from generation to generation.” Fear is here understood as filial, that is, a shrinking from hurting one who is loved. Such is the fear a son has for a devoted father and the fear a Christian has of Christ. Fear is here related to love.”  Fulton J. Sheen, The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God 

President John F. Kennedy explained about panic this way, “This is not a time to keep the facts from the people-to keep them complacent. To sound the alarm is not to panic but to seek action from an aroused public. For, as the poet, Dante once said: 'The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality. 

Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we should fear no evil for He is with us. His rod and His staff will comfort us (Psalm 23:4). 

Today we are facing some of the most troubled times in our nation’s history.  We are faced with a pandemic, stock market crash, and closing of churches.  Never in the history of our nation have we had all three at once before.  In 1918 we had the Spanish Flu epidemic, in 1929 we had a stock market crash, and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that religion began to take a lesser and lesser part of our lives.  Religion got us through the 1918 epidemic, religion got us through the stock market crash of 1929, and now what will get us through this triple threat of problems? 

No wonder people are panicked.  No wonder they are worried.  They have lost their sense of spiritual balance.  It reminds me of the story of the rich man. Becoming rich in what matters to God is the key to true, lasting peace and happiness.  How can there be panic in this condition? 

Therefore, the question becomes, what leads to permanent and lasting happiness? As Jesus pointed out, becoming "rich in what matters to God" is the key. When we place God first, we do not worry and we are not in a panic.  This is the simple answer.  God puts an end to our worry and we have no panic.  

In Luke 16 19-31 we see The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. 

19 “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day.  

20 And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 

21 who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores.  

22 When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,  

23 and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.  

24 And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’  

25 Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. 

26 Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’  

27 He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house,  

28 for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’  

29 But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’  

30 * He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’  

31 Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’ 

In the parable, we heard about a rich man who reaped a bountiful harvest. Instead of building up riches that matter to God, the man based his security on material treasures and plans to tear down his barns in order to build new, larger structures that can safely house his harvest. Elated over the harvest he planned to enjoy in the future, the rich man proclaimed, "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!"' 

Are we not just like this man in our lives?  Are we not putting too much faith in  

However, God tells the rich man his life will be demanded of him that very night. Death will strip away his false security, and he will be found wanting in what really matters. At the end of the parable, Jesus provides this warning: "Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself, but is not rich in what matters to God." 

Our American culture often promotes the false values of the "good life"-storing up treasure for oneself. This life of material wealth is perpetually held up as the real treasure to be continually desired and sought after. Additionally, contemporary society in the West nourishes a hedonistic attitude and lifestyle. 

Look however how quickly things can be taken from people.  In the parable, it was that very night.  In our times it was a matter of one month.  On  Feb. 12, 2020, the Dow Jones average hit the all-time high of 29, 551. 42. Then on March 16, 2020, the Dow Jones lost almost 3,000 dollars in one day- this was a record loss for this average. From Feb. 12- March 16 stocks had lost almost 1/3 of their value.  We can no more store up treasures on this earth as the rich man in the parable.  

We must turn our vision to heaven, turn our heads to God, and more importantly, we must begin to live in this world as our lives depended upon it because it does.   Praise be to God always.  

Fulton Sheen, “If you do not worship God, you worship something, and nine times out of ten it will be yourself. You have a duty to worship God, not because He will be imperfect and unhappy if you do not, but because you will be imperfect and unhappy.” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (2014). “Remade for Happiness: Achieving Life's Purpose through Spiritual Transformation”, p.16, Ignatius Press