When my son, Raj, was in junior high school, students at our Catholic school were free to choose only their shoes. Raj could recite what brand of shoes every boy in his class wore and he desperately wanted a pair of Air Jordan’s. He would study them lovingly whenever we went to the mall until I finally broke down and bought him a pair. Ironically Raj discovered that Air Jordan’s were just shoes. He never asked for another pair. He was cured of this case of “idol worship.”
Today’s readings lead us to contemplate what idols we worship.
In the first reading, St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven”; in the Gospel, Jesus attacks the Scribes and Pharisees for turning the incidentals of religious practice into a form of idol worship.
I asked myself what are our modern equivalents of false idols and more specifically, what false idols do I inadvertently worship.
My first image was that of a parking lot filled with luxury cars. But this was too easy since I don’t even want a fancy car. The same goes for mansions, diamond jewelry and anything else that costs a bundle. These could be some peoples’ idols, just not mine. Conversely I know people who drive BMWs and Porsches but don’t idolize them any more than I idolize my 1999 Acura; it’s not the possessions per se that determine idol worship.
The issue is what things and activities other than God and service to others obsess us. How miserly are we with our money and our time? Do our jobs or hobbies consume us to the point that they have become idols? Are we willing to share our time, talent and treasure with others? How inflexible are our routines?
Here’s a test: if I had to change XXX, what would REALLY upset me? The answer will help you identify your idols whether this turns out to be the horrifying prospect of ever retiring (workaholics like me), being unable to play golf or having to skip working out every morning before work. We all have at least one “idol.”
It’s good to love our jobs and homes and to enjoy our hobbies but only if we remember that these relatively unimportant things eventually will be taken from us. At that point, will we find that we have worshiped them or God? Is it time to start getting our priorities in order?
Eileen Wirth
I’m a retired Creighton journalism professor, active in St. John’s parish and a CLC member. In retirement, I write books about state and local history, including a history of the parish, and do volunteer PR consulting for groups like Habitat for Humanities, refugees etc. I love to read, work out, spend time with family and friends including those who can no longer get out much.
Writing reflections has deepened my faith by requiring me to engage deeply with Jesus through the Scriptures. In the many years I have been doing this, I’ve also formed friendships with regular readers nationally, most of whom I have never met. Hearing from readers and what I learn by writing make the hours I spend on each reflection well worth the effort.
