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Idolatry and Freedom

Golden Calf

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


Sometimes we talk metaphorically about how today’s golden calves are money and sensuality. So, whereas the Israelites worshiped a golden idol at Sinai, we worship our own base passions of greed, laziness, lust, etc.

This metaphor may feel recent, but it originates with St. Paul, right in today’s first reading. Those who give themselves over to these things are committing, directly or indirectly, a sin against the First Commandment, by not loving God above all things, and putting something else ahead of Him.

Because we are attached to sin, we may feel as though the prohibition against sin is a constraint, a sort of shackles, which prevents us from doing what we want. We are like a horse tethered to a post for so long that he no longer knows what it means not to be tethered, and enjoys chewing on the leather with which he is tied. When the master comes to free him from the tether, he balks and fights, afraid to lose his chew toy, not realizing at all how much greater a joy freedom brings than the taste of his old tether.

Freedom from sin is very much like freedom from a debilitating physical condition–like the horse’s tethered state, or like the crippled woman’s inability to stand up straight in today’s Gospel passage. Hence Jesus often heals and forgives sins at the same moment, freeing the whole person, in their physical and spiritual reality.

If the Christian life feels onerous to us, this is an illusion; it means simply that we haven’t tasted it in its fullness. It has been said that falling in love with God is the opposite process, in a sense, to falling in love romantically. With romantic love, we feel strong attraction, and on the basis of that attraction come to a place of commitment. With love of God, He asks us to commit first in faith, fully, and then over the course of our lives reveals the glory of that in which we have invested.

Our best tastes of freedom in God are yet to come.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Tell Jesus of the attachments you feel to created realities, and even habits of sin. Tell Him of your weakness and the difficulty you encounter in becoming free to choose Him consistently. Ask Him to send you the Holy Spirit to supplement with the strength and clarity that you don’t have. Will a father give his son a scorpion when he asks for an egg? Much less, then, will your Father in Heaven refuse the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (cf. Lk. 11:12-13).

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Not Rocket Science

Rocket

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.


Perfect morality is not the key to sanctity. When we focus on perfecting morality alone, we wind up turning everything into a moral judgement and centering on ourselves more than ever.

Basic morality is a prerequisite for sanctity. As Paul says in today’s reading, “The works of the flesh are obvious.” That is, the sins we are to avoid are not rocket science. It doesn’t take a lot of analysis or head-scratching to figure out which they are. Paul helps with a starter list, just in case.

Pride is the greatest enemy of sanctity. That said, we also don’t become saints solely or primarily by working on our humility.

We see Jesus correcting the Pharisees for their pride in today’s Gospel passage. But He doesn’t tell them to be more humble. He accuses them of lacking love for God. He also cites their lack of mercy and love of neighbor: “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”

It is, of course, critical for us to avoid sin–those sins, for example, that we mentioned in our last confession. We must avoid impure thoughts and images, drunkenness, and lazy idleness. We must avoid impatience, rudeness, and anger with others.

But the key to coming out of ourselves, falling in love with God, passion for the welfare of neighbor, lies not within ourselves. God is real. He is powerful. He acts in our lives, albeit often imperceptibly. His action is the key.

The key to sanctity is to fall in love with Him and with the welfare of His people by spending time with Him in prayer and in the sacraments. By letting Him transform our hearts into His.

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