March 29 / Third Friday of Lent
There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god. ~ Ps 81:.9
One of the first lessons we learn as we grow up, and a lesson we certainly impart to our children, is this: Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t answer the door if you don’t recognize the person. Don’t get into a car with someone you don’t know (although the so-called sharing economy has upended this admonition). While we may safeguard our physical environment, when it comes to our spiritual lives we are less careful. In fact, we do it all the time—welcome strange gods into our hearts as we subscribe to new fads, adopt the latest trends and follow our own yearnings, trampling on our commitment to follow God alone. These “strange and foreign gods” may entice us onto a less demanding spiritual path than faithful, regular worship (“Sure,” they whisper, “you don’t need to ‘practice’ your faith, you’re spiritual enough as it is; go enjoy those bottomless mimosas next Sunday”). They may lure us with visions of whatever success means to us (“You can be famous/rich/well-known/influential,” they hiss, “but you mustn’t stop to help your neighbor along the way, because that will just slow you down”). Our false gods, our foreign gods, they are whatever we give priority to in our lives. As the third-century theologian Origen observed, "What each one honors before all else, what before all things he admires and loves, this for him is God.” As we draw near the halfway mark of Lent, it would behoove us to reflect upon which gods we are honoring, admiring and loving more than God who gave us life. And then to show them the door.
O God, who chose us as your own, grant that I may discard the false gods who distract me from following you, truly placing you first in my life. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here.
