As I write this, I am in the midst of moving. I have stacks of papers to sort through, boxes everywhere, and a growing list of unanswered emails and messages because of how time-consuming it’s been.  It’s not the first time I’ve moved — coming to Monroe and the surrounding area will be my sixth assignment as a priest in 13 years (I can’t seem to hold down a job). Still, I’m not at ease during the moving process. Transitions are hard. 

I especially dislike packing and unpacking. Why do I have so much stuff? Why does my standard seem to be “throw it out or give it away if you are certain you will never use it” rather than “keep it only if you absolutely need it”? How do I define what I truly “need”? What irks me the most is that I see how the hours spent packing deprive me of precious time with others. It feels like the things become more important than the people (always a bad sign, spiritually!). 

I have responsibilities at my current parish and at my new one. I have goodbyes to say and introductions to make. I have contracts to finalize as I leave and job postings to oversee in my new assignment.  I feel split in two. No wonder anxiety sneaks in! As God usually does, He speaks to our hearts in the midst of these difficulties. He utters a hidden wisdom, often manifested through the Sacred Scriptures. As Providence would have it, these are the words of Jesus from this Sunday’s (12th Sunday in OT, Yr A) Gospel from the Lectionary: 

“Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?

Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.

Even all the hairs of your head are counted.

So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”  (Matthew 10:29-31) 

The Lord knows my circumstance. He is attentive to me in my need. When I stop and pray, I am aware that the only thing that matters is that I do His will. Going to my new assignment is His will and cooperating with His plan is the way to peace. 

So often, when we feel overwhelmed by the demands of life, we are tempted to dig deeper, work harder, and rely on our reserves to get us through. When the Missionaries of Charity spoke to Mother Teresa about how many Sisters were feeling overwhelmed with their daily duties and the demands of the poor together with their rigorous prayer regimen, she said, “you’re right, we need to pray more,” and she added an additional time of prayer for the Sisters in the evening! Relying on God is the source of strength, not ourselves. Prayer is not to be abandoned in times of difficulty or great demand, but attended to more faithfully.  

Please pray for me, as I will pray for all the good folks in your area. Pray especially that I let go of material things and anxieties and am open to the Lord’s will, to the people He sends my direction, and to the great missionary adventure He has in store for me:

“[Jesus said,] what I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

And do not be afraid…”

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Fr. Dave Carrano is the new Parochial Administrator of St. Clare of Assisi Parish (Monroe and Brodhead), St. Francis Parish (Belleville and Albany), and St. Joseph Church (Argyle), working as part of a team of three priests who will begin their ministry here on July 1, 2023.