Wednesday, Tenth Week of Ordinary Time: Don't jeopardise life eternal

Fr Richard's words for today

Readings: https://universalis.com/20200610/mass.htm

Don't jeopardise life eternal

Listen here

There’s almost something quite comical about Elijah’s mocking of the prophets of Baal in today’s reading. Elijah knows that the 450 people calling on Baal to bring down fire on a sacrificial bull are wasting their time! The calls and the strange hobbling dance for this false god to show power are futile.

There is only One Lord, the God of Israel – and He is all powerful. Elijah has complete trust and confidence that his call for the Lord to bring down fire on the sacrifice will be instantly heard. He knows this sign will make the prophets of Baal concede: “The Lord is God.”

In the Gospel, Jesus very strongly warns that infringing even the least of the Commandments and encouraging others to do so the same will make us the “least in the Kingdom of heaven.” Reflecting on our reading from the Book of Kings, we remember that the very first of the Ten Commandments is precisely: “I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods before me.” The Lord tells Moses: “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” (Ex 20:2-5; cf Dt 5:6-9) We know, then, that living the Christian life is rooted in worship and adoration of the Lord God. If we reject God, if we begin to seek power from worldly things and people instead, and even worse, from spirits other than the Holy Spirit – then our eternal life is in jeopardy. Actually following false gods, then, is far from comical.

In the difficulty of living through a “lockdown”, the temptation to seek solace from quarters other than those rooted in Our Blessed Lord is perhaps more evident. But we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us reject these temptations and flee always to the loving arms of the Lord God. Spiritual sickness and death are far more serious than physical sickness and death – a perspective we must keep amid this pandemic.

Holy Spirit – guide us always to reject false and empty gods, however they may manifest themselves. Let our prayer always be: “Preserve me God, I take refuge in you. I say to the Lord: “You are my God.”