Psalm 49:5-9. "Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutor's surrounds me, men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?" No man can ransom himself or pay a price to God for his salvation. Our lives are worth too much, nothing we can give can suffice to redeem us and purchase us everlasting life.

Why do I worry indeed? Someone else has paid the price for my everlasting life, I should feel nothing but joy and love! But worry I do. It seems like God is permitting me to have many, many valid things to worry about (illness and death of people I know and love, expensive car repairs, many other financial concerns, identity theft, vaccine worries, the corruption of all of our institutions, etc., etc.) but I must remember this psalm and the Novena of Surrender when I give in to my worrying.

"Why do you confuse yourself with worrying?" asks the novena. It does no good and it just disturbs my peace. I must just do my very best at every moment, every step of the way, and God will protect me from evildoers. If I suffer, and I do, I should offer it up as me playing some small part in the selfless suffering of our Savior who suffered to save all of us, including me.