Making Gods of Cake and Pie
Being a larger than average person, I ‘m drawn
to Paul’s words “Their God is their
stomach…”
I could be offended by that statement. Diets are
my downfall. A piece of cake or pie speaks to me. I am weak and succumb to
temptation. Surely that’s not what Paul was talking about. But it is, he
writes “minds are occupied with
earthly things.”
People argue about this. It’s not an argument of
denial but of support. Atheist and those who have trouble believing argue,
oppose, evaluate, and adjust the world’s opinions to what they think is real;
the earthly things the mind is occupied with.
The words of St Francis - “You only know as much as
you do.” But, we think
what we know is more than it is.
Because the human mind can’t grasp the mystery
of God, He has been rejected by many people. Like after the first man and woman
were cast out of the garden, the world continues to reject the creator, our
stomachs rule us. We succumb to weakness and temptation. The shameful truth, it
isn’t as simple as cake and pie.
We have made gods of “earthly things” that are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” We follow gods that bring us to the destruction
of our own end. Gods created in the shameful glory of violence and domination
of the less fortunate, poor, and weak. These gods are the carnal temptations of
world, power, and ego.
Even in this sin, God doesn’t hide from us. God
is always. The readings show us God is right in front of us. God has
chosen us and by His grace will change us.
God’s grace will change us.
He chose a man from Ur of the Chaldeans. God changed Abram and promised him more - a land to possess and
decedents as numerous as the stars in the sky.
God was there when Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the
mountain to pray. That part of Jesus
that was the same as you and me, changed. “While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his
clothing became dazzling white.” And, “Then from the cloud came
a voice that said ‘this is my chosen Son; listen to him.’” In those words, God promised us more - the
promise of the new and everlasting covenant.
Paul describes the change to comet, “He will change our lowly body to conform with his
glorified body.” And that change
promises us more. “Our citizenship is in
heaven….we await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. “
God is right there in front of us in Christ
Jesus who heals us body and soul. We find God not in our desires but in the
grace and mercy of our everyday life. Moved by grace, we will turn towards God and away from sin.
God’s grace will change us.
That
change promises us more, someplace special, the Promised Land, the Kingdom of
Heaven.
It takes a little bit on our part. These words
are from the Psalm: “The LORD hears our prayer
and he answers. He hears us when our hearts call out to him. Wait for the LORD
with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.”
I think that means, give up the cake and
pie.
That
brings us back to the words of St Francis - “You only know as much as you do.” So, what
is your cake and pie?
Y’all be good, y’all be holy and preach the
gospel by the way you live and love. Amen
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