Taking the Extra Step

MATTHEW 6:24-34

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.

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While I was meditatively scanning my First Book of Saints, I was particularly fixated on one great saint: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga. It never occurred to me until just now that it is his feast day today.
Saint Aloysius, considered the Patron of Youth and Young Men, was born into a noble family. Trained in the art of war, Aloysius was also exposed to the excesses and lavish lifestyle of Spanish nobility.

Despite this, he had an inclination to the religious life, such that, when he heard about the missionaries of the Society of Jesus doing work in India, he resolved to be one of them. With much opposition from his father, he entered the Society and served the sick to which he was assigned to minister. He died after carrying out his work with patients afflicted with the plague.

This made me think in relation to today's Gospel.

How much do I worry about my everyday needs? I have been given more than what is necessary, but what do I have to offer more?

Am I afraid to take risks? In my current apostolate as a medical student, how much did I invest to learn more about the diseases I am about to encounter in the clinics? Am I studious enough?

Am I willing to seek the Kingdom of God in the people I am with? Or do I prejudge them easily and refuse to take time and see the innate good in them?

Do I worry so much? Prayer should have been more than enough to ease our concerns.

Saint Aloysius, may I always follow the will of God and lovingly carry the Cross you so joyfully bore.

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Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, pray for us, and please pray for God's grace that He may lead me to the same footsteps you followed: into His humble Society.

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photo credits: http://irub.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/216624fork-in-road-posters.jpg, http://www.saintaloysiusgonzaga.com/images/Front_image.jpg