I have called what I want to say today "Carpe Diem", because sometimes great opportunities come our way that we need to respond to. This phrase, originally appeared in a poem by the ancient Roman poet, Horace. In its context it means making the most of current opportunities because our life may be short and time is fleeting.

 "Leuconoe, don't ask-it's dangerous to know-what end the gods will give you or me. Don't play with Babylonian fortune telling either. Better just to deal with whatever comes your way.  Whether you will see several more winters or whether the last one Jupiter gives you is the one even now pelting the rocks on the shore with the waves of the Tyrrhenian sea-be smart drink your wine. Scale back your long hopes to a short period. While we speak time is envious and is running away from us. Seize the day trust little in the future."

 Ours is a world filled with anxieties and fears, and is easy to allow these to rub off on us. 

 "How high will the price of gas rise?

Is someone trying to steal my identity? 

Will there be another terrorist attack soon?

What is going to happen about rising health care costs?"

 Watching the news can fill us with anxieties or even cause to become positively paranoid.

 Our Gospel passage this morning is a real antidote to all this. Jesus tells us not to worry. I don't he says and neither should you. "Don't sweat the little things"  as the saying goes and Jesus tells us-that everything is a little thing.  When Jesus tells us "Don't worry about what you will eat or drink or wear", he does not mean that these things are unimportant; He doesn't  mean we should all become ascetics eating and drinking as little as possible and finding no enjoyment in them. He does not mean that we should not be responsible and work, to gain food, shelter and clothing. What Jesus is really saying is that we need to have right priorities -if God and his kingdom are truly first and foremost in our thinking and choices then we will know God not as not a god who is distant from the world, indifferent to our lives, to beauty, enjoyment, food and clothes for his creatures; but we will know God as the creator of all, who has filled our world with wonderful and mysterious things which are full of beauty, energy and excitement.

 How then should we be living?  as those who above all trust him and love God. Who know tranquility, confidence and joy; whose lives radiate beauty, energy and excitement. Because we have so much, relative to most people in the world it is hard for us to live free from fears about material things and our future. When I lived in South Africa we had a cleaning lady called Mary. She brought her young son N'zoozo and as she worked he was strapped to her back. So often she would be singing joyful songs in her native Zulu as she worked. She had so little, yet constantly graced us with her infectious joy, laughter captivating and smile and deep trust in the God she knew and worshipped. Over the years I have met and known many people like Mary and so many of them have had so little in materiel things and yet are so wealthy in trust and joy. They are a real challenge to me.

 Why should we not worry? Well Jesus says for two reasons; firstly there are so many things we cannot control from the price of oil to in inner workings of our bodies-worrying does not help or make any difference. Secondly, Jesus says God, your loving father knows your needs-trust him leave things up to him.

 How then should we be living? Well we need to be those who seize the day, every day; i.e. take full advantage of all the opportunities that God gives to us.

 Let me conclude with two practical applications of this principle.

 Hurtful and painful things happen to all of us. Sometimes other people do or say things which cause us pain and anger. They may happen by accident or design. We can hang on to our sense of hurt, outrage and anger and refuse to move beyond our (legitimate) resentments. That leads to bitterness and imprisonment of our souls. Or we can seize the day - take the opportunity to forgive the one who has hurt us and caused us pain. Later on in this service we will all pray "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Let each of us use that opportunity to forgive anyone who needs our forgiveness.

 Secondly you all received a letter this week from our Stewardship Committee speaking of this great opportunity given to us through the generosity of an anonymous giver. This individual will match all new gifts promised or given to Christ Church, dollar for dollar, up to a maximum of $8000. If we all respond generously, we can meet all our expected needs for this year. The time for us to respond is now. Let each of us "Carpe Diem" truly seize the day. Amen