DO I SOMETIMES PUT MORE TRUST IN HOLY OBJECTS THAN IN PERSON WHO IS REPRESENTED BY HOLY THINGS?
A little background on today’s First Reading from 1 Samuel 4: 1-11. Eli, the priest, had two sons who were named Hophni and Phinehas. Although they were of the priestly tribe, they lived lives that were not of the LORD ; they were not faithful to GOD, probably worshiping the gods of neighboring people. Because of this and because Eli had not reprimanded his sons, GOD promised that the family of Eli would be punished (1 Samuel 3: 12-14). Today’s passage relates the battle between the Philistines and the people of Israel. The people of Israel bring the Ark of the Covenant from its tent in the town of Shiloh to the battle believing that if they have the holy Ark of GOD’s presence with them, then they will not lose the battle. They place more trust in the holy object of GOD than in GOD. They are acting superstitiously in believing in a thing rather than the GOD Whom the thing represented. The Philistines win the battle and they capture the Ark of the Covenant. Eli’s two sons (Hophni and Phinehas) are killed. The Responsorial Psalm is a reflection on the tragedies which have come upon the Hebrews, thus making them the butt of the neighboring nations’ jokes. Yet, the refrain is a prayer for redemption, made with the faith in a GOD Who can and will save the Chosen People. The Gospel relates the account of a leper begging Jesus to heal him. After Jesus reassures the leper that He wills that the man receive salus (healing, wholeness, salvation), He asks the man to quietly go and show himself to the priest who can declare him clean. The man cannot hold in his excitement at being healed and he proclaims what Jesus has done to all whom he meets. As I reflect on the readings today, I am struck by the thought that what GOD wants of us is to live lives of following Jesus and doing what He asks of us. Yet, it is so easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking we are righteous if we proclaim the wonderful things that happen to us or perform religious activities or use holy objects. Doing those things makes it look like we are “holy people.” Yet, that is not enough. We need to follow Jesus’s invitation and do what He asks of us. We need to see if there is anything in our lives which prevents us from following Him more fully. We need to put aside whatever is blocking us from acting like our Master-Teacher. I’m not saying that we don’t have to obey the commandments nor that we should not shout about what Jesus has done for us. We should. Yet simple obedience to the commandments are not enough. The commandments are there as guides and helps so that we can live more Christian lives. I am not putting down religious activities or the use of “holy objects.” They can be very helpful in leading us to a closer relationship with Jesus. The essential thing is that we follow Jesus and do exactly what He commands of us. We must imitate the lifestyle of our Master. As I look at my life, I realize that watching television has been an escape or a distraction from spending time in prayer or reading the Bible or other Christian literature. I still watch television, but not as much as I did. I try to spend as much time in deepening my spiritual life as watching television. Computers can be addictive. I try to use the computer (besides the work I have to do on it) for writing reflections or researching topics that deepen my faith. Yet at times, I must admit, I am drawn into activities on the computer which are not wholesome and holy. It is easy to get lost in the ever present advertisements and spend too much time online or playing games or using social media. Yes, social media can be a way for us to keep in touch with people and even ..... The personal question/action for today: Do I sometimes put more trust in holy objects than in the Person Who is represented by the holy things? Am I sometimes more excited in what has happened to me than in Who it is Who is making it happen? In what ways can I proclaim the GOoDness of the GOD in my lifestyle and not just in words? Let us pray Blessed are You, LORD GOD of all situations. Through Your GOoDness, we are privileged to hear the invitation of Your Son, Jesus. He calls us to leave behind whatever is distracting us from following Him and to focus on Him and His actions, not on our actions. Help us to look at our lives honestly and find those things which we wrongfully value more than we value our relationship with You and Your Son. Give us the strength to put those aside and spend the time at the feet of the Master-Teacher. Fill us with the wisdom and guidance of Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for the challenges You give us. May our lives reflect that we are apprentices of the Master-Teacher and that we continue His work of loving service. As always we ask this of You, through Jesus the Christ, You Son and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, forever and ever. Amen.
A little background on today’s First Reading from 1 Samuel 4: 1-11. Eli, the priest, had two sons who were named Hophni and Phinehas. Although they were of the priestly tribe, they lived lives that were not of the LORD ; they were not faithful to GOD, probably worshiping the gods of neighboring people. Because of this and because Eli had not reprimanded his sons, GOD promised that the family of Eli would be punished (1 Samuel 3: 12-14). Today’s passage relates the battle between the Philistines and the people of Israel. The people of Israel bring the Ark of the Covenant from its tent in the town of Shiloh to the battle believing that if they have the holy Ark of GOD’s presence with them, then they will not lose the battle. They place more trust in the holy object of GOD than in GOD. They are acting superstitiously in believing in a thing rather than the GOD Whom the thing represented. The Philistines win the battle and they capture the Ark of the Covenant. Eli’s two sons (Hophni and Phinehas) are killed. The Responsorial Psalm is a reflection on the tragedies which have come upon the Hebrews, thus making them the butt of the neighboring nations’ jokes. Yet, the refrain is a prayer for redemption, made with the faith in a GOD Who can and will save the Chosen People. The Gospel relates the account of a leper begging Jesus to heal him. After Jesus reassures the leper that He wills that the man receive salus (healing, wholeness, salvation), He asks the man to quietly go and show himself to the priest who can declare him clean. The man cannot hold in his excitement at being healed and he proclaims what Jesus has done to all whom he meets. As I reflect on the readings today, I am struck by the thought that what GOD wants of us is to live lives of following Jesus and doing what He asks of us. Yet, it is so easy for us to fall into the trap of thinking we are righteous if we proclaim the wonderful things that happen to us or perform religious activities or use holy objects. Doing those things makes it look like we are “holy people.” Yet, that is not enough. We need to follow Jesus’s invitation and do what He asks of us. We need to see if there is anything in our lives which prevents us from following Him more fully. We need to put aside whatever is blocking us from acting like our Master-Teacher. I’m not saying that we don’t have to obey the commandments nor that we should not shout about what Jesus has done for us. We should. Yet simple obedience to the commandments are not enough. The commandments are there as guides and helps so that we can live more Christian lives. I am not putting down religious activities or the use of “holy objects.” They can be very helpful in leading us to a closer relationship with Jesus. The essential thing is that we follow Jesus and do exactly what He commands of us. We must imitate the lifestyle of our Master. As I look at my life, I realize that watching television has been an escape or a distraction from spending time in prayer or reading the Bible or other Christian literature. I still watch television, but not as much as I did. I try to spend as much time in deepening my spiritual life as watching television. Computers can be addictive. I try to use the computer (besides the work I have to do on it) for writing reflections or researching topics that deepen my faith. Yet at times, I must admit, I am drawn into activities on the computer which are not wholesome and holy. It is easy to get lost in the ever present advertisements and spend too much time online or playing games or using social media. Yes, social media can be a way for us to keep in touch with people and even ..... The personal question/action for today: Do I sometimes put more trust in holy objects than in the Person Who is represented by the holy things? Am I sometimes more excited in what has happened to me than in Who it is Who is making it happen? In what ways can I proclaim the GOoDness of the GOD in my lifestyle and not just in words? Let us pray Blessed are You, LORD GOD of all situations. Through Your GOoDness, we are privileged to hear the invitation of Your Son, Jesus. He calls us to leave behind whatever is distracting us from following Him and to focus on Him and His actions, not on our actions. Help us to look at our lives honestly and find those things which we wrongfully value more than we value our relationship with You and Your Son. Give us the strength to put those aside and spend the time at the feet of the Master-Teacher. Fill us with the wisdom and guidance of Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for the challenges You give us. May our lives reflect that we are apprentices of the Master-Teacher and that we continue His work of loving service. As always we ask this of You, through Jesus the Christ, You Son and our Brother, Who is living and reigning with You and the Holy Spirit, our one and only GOD, forever and ever. Amen.