Our Idols

Pope Francis said that we are called to bring the Gospel to others. The way we do this is by living the Gospel. We must make God first in our lives each day. This means getting rid of our own idols. His Holiness said:

They are idols that we sometimes keep well hidden; they can be ambition, a taste for success, placing ourselves at the center, the tendency to dominate others, the claim to be the sole masters of our lives, some sins to which we are bound, and many others.... I would like a question to resound in the heart of each one of you, and I would like you to answer it honestly: Have I considered which idol lies hidden in my life that prevents me from worshipping the Lord? Worshiping is stripping ourselves of our idols, even the most hidden ones, and choosing the Lord as the center, as the highway of our lives."

Except for the third world, there is so much to be had today in terms of material things. Because of their attraction, God is often put at the end of the list. We can become as cold and lifeless as the things we seek.

Let’s take time out each day to think about this -- to consider seriously the Pope’s word’s. We need to have some moments of quiet prayer and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. He will show us where true meaning and therefore true happiness lie.

We might be afraid to go down this road of reflection, thinking that God will require us to give up what we have. Actually, He won’t. But, he will ask us to end any unhealthy attachment we have to them and to see them for what they are. Even when we realize that He wants us to give up certain things, obviously sinful things, we will know that God is asking only what is good for us.

May we each have the courage to know what idols we have and to invite God in our hearts to take their place.

Father Stanley