God has made us for himself.
In the 1980’s Northeast Louisiana University (NLU) had the top ranked
School of Construction in the country.
As I travel the region, I meet graduates of this program with successful
construction companies. Not too many identify themselves in a tradition of NLU.
One friend of mine with an NLU Construction degree has become very
wealthy. He considers himself “a self-made man.”
His office is full of LSU posters, helmets, jerseys, and memorabilia. On
one small section of his wall are a football letterman’s certificate, his NLU helmet,
two All-American Awards, and a Hall of Fame plaque. No honor and glory is given
the NLU tradition that made him. His reasons are business, preference, and
choice; besides, it was a long time ago.
For many, the same thing has happened with God and our faith. We forget God
has made us for himself. We fail to see the hand of God in all things
Instead, we interpret the Gospel to please us. We choose the parts of
Jesus’s teachings that are easy to believe and popular. We choose how we
worship God like we choose a team or shop for a mattress. We go to different
stores, lie on different mattresses, and check style, firmness, comfort, and
popularity. We choose what we like.
Do not confuse the freedom in the world with how we are to worship God.
Jesus tells us not to be confused. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what
belongs to God. We are not to
test God.
When we worship, whose image do we see? Worshipping God is not
worshipping at the altar dedicated to us.
People choose their altar of worship by the amenities, what is good and
comfortable. People choose their churches by.... They have a beautiful new
building. It’s the right place to be seen. There’s a coffee bar. Worship is
lively and worship means the music. They have things for the kids.
Worshiping God is not about choosing a baby sitter for children or the
adults. Worship
is to give God glory and honor. Worship is to praise the Lord. God is awesome.
He is beyond all even fancy buildings, coffee shops, and hip church bands.
People will say they attend a Bible teaching church and the Catholic Church
relies on tradition not the Bible. At every
mass more of the Bible is read than at most Protestant church services. Scripture is
proclaimed in the first reading, psalms, epistle, alleluia, Gospel, and even
the Eucharistic prayers. Consider this truth, the infinite mystery, wondrous
grace, and awesome glory of God cannot be contained only in the Bible.
It is found in the tradition of the Church. Tradition is the people of
the Church who shared the Gospel and worship before the Holy Bible was put
together. Four hundred years of tradition started by Jesus. Tradition lives in
the world.
Jesus we know you are a truthful man and you teach the
word of God. Tradition is
truth that Jesus shared and Paul writes about “the Gospel does not come in word alone, but also in the power and in
the Holy Spirit....”
The prophet Isaiah points out that event the even the
most powerful and wealthy are not self-made. God has made us for himself; and,
all we have and all that we are comes from him and belongs to him.
We can choose our team. We shop for the best mattress. But, we cannot change
God. We cannot change the Gospel to fit your beliefs. For those who do, we are
hypocrites that test God.
Remember God’s message, “Though
you know me not, there is none besides me. I am the Lord and there is no other.”
If shopping is necessary, read the Gospel. Read Jesus’ words. Study the
writings from the early Church. Know that God wants us to shine like lights in the world as
you hold on to the word of life. Jesus’ Church is faith, love, and endurance for its people and tradition.
Be good, be holy and preach the Gospel by the way you live and love.
Amen.
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