Idol-free Living
(Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13; Ps 115; Mt 9:32-38)
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There is a sign at Fountain Park pool that says, “Keep this an idle-free zone.”
Today, we are called to live in an idol-free zone; to trust the one true God with our lives, and to pray for more missionaries to spread that message.
The first reading describes the idolatryof the people. One definition of an idol is a false god having an overly great influence on one’s life. Any addiction can be a false god – especially the addiction to money, fame and power. Even in the gospel, the opponents of Jesus claim he is also in idolatry, casting out demons by the ruler of demons.
The reading also adds infidelityto their idolatry. They ignore the Word of God, and are set on doing their own will – having Kings and Princes without God’s knowledge, and relying on their own efforts to make themselves holy, or on sacrifices – a religion of externalism that is superficial and does not reach the heart.
One could say addiction a form of idolatry – worshipping a false god. So much so that it is advisable for an addict who wants to marry to go for treatment first, as that addiction could invalidate a marriage. How can one promise a life-time of fidelity to a loved one, if one is already married to a chemical or a process activity that will always come first in the addict’s life?
Addiction is cunning, baffling and powerful. On a personal note, it took time for me to recognize work-a-holism as idolatry. I had to be told bluntly I was breaking the first commandment. It also took time to recognize doing my will in God’s name in my ministry was infidelity – even treason. According to T. S. Elliot in Murder in the Cathedral, to do the right thing for the wrong reason is great treason.
We can question ourselves: is there any idolatry or infidelity in our lives at the moment?
The psalm is just the opposite: calling us to trust in the Lord, but also stating Israel trusts in God who is in heaven, and not an earthly idol.
In the Gospel, we see the one true God incarnate, the one in whom we are to trust, who is without addiction, in action. What Jesus does in the gospel is just the opposite of an addicted life: teaching, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom where there is no addiction, and healing the sick. Jesus then remarks the people are like sheep without a shepherd, and we are to pray for more laborers – more missionaries who will trust him and be faithful to him by being like him – teaching, proclaiming the Good News of freedom, and performing a ministry of healing.
The Eucharist calls us to place our complete faith in Jesus, his Word and his Body and Blood as our one true God, and to let go of any false gods in our lives.
May our celebration empower us to trust in God completely, imitate Jesus in teaching, proclaiming, caring and healing, and pray for more laborers who will do the same.
The first commandment is I am the Lord your God . You shall not have strange Gods before me. We should praise and worship this one true God that can perform miracles and save us from our sins. He is the one who will help the poor, homeless, needy, sick and people with any resentments as long as we trust him. This true God will answer our prayers and have any intentions for him to resolve , but it will take time. We should have consolations by knowing what is right and wrong. Desolations is being imitated by false gods that only look towards fame, power, greed, money and richness. They will proclaim the gospel with out any knowledge of the history behind Jesus Christ and even the Christian faith. If we know Jesus Christ as a teacher who teaches us how to love and respect people and help people who are in need . This is believing in this one true God because he will do the same for us. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with your mind. This is one of the greatest commandments. You must love your neighbours as yourself is part of the whole law and prophets. Thanks for the messages and homilies about idolatry and free living . Bishop Lavoie