Man was made in the image and likeness of God (Gn 1:26). Moses was called a friend of God (Ex 33:11). David was called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Jesus spent hours in deep prayer with God. What about you? What is keeping you from an intimate relationship with God?
False Gods, Idols, and Golden Calfs
This past Sunday—the Second Sunday of Advent—we heard and reflected upon the readings from Scripture that call us to “prepare the way of the Lord.” These readings describe this preparation in terms of leveling the unstable terrain in order that the Lord may come—cleaning house so that the Lord may enter and stay with us. We prayed together at Mass the following words:
“Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
~ Collect, Second Sunday of Advent
When He prohibits the worshipping of “graven images” or “idols” in the First Commandment, it’s not to say that God doesn’t like statues. What He is doing is telling us that we should put nothing before Him. Nothing should be worshipped but God alone—not money, not sex, nothing.
Getting in the Way of God’s Love
I have often found that I get in God’s way, giving worship to myself that should be directed to Him. This is true when I seek power, pride, praise, pleasure, and pity. It’s true when I am selfish and self-centered. God made us to give and to receive love. So to focus on ourselves and our feelings without attention to Him and His people keeps us from being what He created you to be. It keeps from that intimacy with Him that is only possible when we are fully alive in God’s will.
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
It’s not just that God wants us to mindlessly follow the rules that He has laid out for us, but to understand that He’s given us these rules out of love, as a parent sets boundaries for his children God gives us the guidelines for a happy life. Jesus says that to love Him is to follow the commandments—which makes absolute sense when what He gave His life for was the salvation of your soul. Through the sacrifice that He made for you, you have been invited into this intimate relationship with God who is love.
“This is the will of God, your holiness”
What have you allowed to come between you and God? What have you given priority over your relationship with God? And how can you take advantage of this Advent season to reclaim it?