The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals. Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers, who led them out of the land of Egypt, they followed the other gods of the various nations around them, and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.
In his book, God in Search of Man, the great Jewish rabbi and philosopher, Joseph Abraham Heschel wrote,
"It is strange that modern students of religion fail to realize the constant necessity for the protest against polytheism. The idea of unity is not only one upon which the ultimate justification of philosophical, ethical and religious universalism depends, but also one which is still beyond the grasp of most people.
Catholicism is a universalist religion; we claim to have a message for all people regardless of caste, culture, race, gender or sexual preference. Our belief in the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Eucharist would appeal equally to Protestants, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, if we were to show its beauty to them.
But monotheism is very demanding and polytheism -- though self-contradictory and illogical -- is more appealing. If we claim to love the One and Only God we still give the devil his due.
Recently I was reminded that certain workers are paid exorbitant amounts of money, luxurious perks, extended vacations and golden parachutes because the system works that way. If one corporation refuses to pay that CEO too much, another corporation will hire them. "The System," sometimes called, "The Economy," requires it. Justice, Mercy, Equality and Fraternity may argue against it but Economy, like the Greek Zeus or the Roman Jupiter, overrules a pantheon of other gods. Not to mention Jesus Christ, the crucified carpenter's son.
Today's gospel about the young man who sought Jesus' advice ends with understated tragedy, "When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,for he had many possessions." Economy cancelled any thought of following the Lord. He could not worship God and Mammon.
In this predicament, Jesus allowed us to "render to Caesar what is Caesar's," so long as we live in this world. But Caesar will amass all his treasures, clutching them tightly as he falls into the abyss. The saved are those who surrender their wealth to follow the Lord.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.