WE ALL DO IT:
Scripture: “I am the Lord your God…you shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below…you shall not bow down before them or serve them.” – Exodus 20:2-5
Catechism: “To adore God is to praise and exalt Him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that He has done great things and holy is His name. The worship of the one God sets mankind free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.” – CCC #2097
Brothers and sisters, we all do it, no one doesn’t not do it: we all prioritize our lives; we prioritize our time, our family, our friends, even our things. We even prioritize without always realizing it. But one thing that we are all called to do is prioritize God as FIRST in our lives. However, if we are being honest, is that really where we rank God and the teachings He gave us through His Son, in order to achieve salvation?
Let us remember that in order to have a full and fruitful relationship with the Lord, we must also have a loving and kind relationship with others; and not just the ones who like us and we like them back – all others. This is made easier when we put Him first in all things.
Where is the Lord ranked when we choose to follow our own desires without any thought or regard as to how the outcome may affect the people who love and care about us? Where is the Lord ranked when we place so much emphasis on things that we swear we cannot live without that they replace the One we are called to worship (i.e. cell phones are just one example)? Where is God ranked when we choose to attend (or watch) events for pleasure, rather than worship Him in community and receive Him in the Eucharist?
Brothers and sisters, God is above – and more important – than all of these things, and everything else as well. As such, the Catholic Church even provides, “the necessary minimum in the spirit of prayer and moral effort, in the growth in love of God and neighbor (CCC #2041).” They are called the ‘Precepts of the Church’ (CCC #2042-2043):
1st Precept: You shall attend Mass on Sundays (or Sat.) and on holy days of obligation and rest from unnecessary labor.
2nd Precept: You shall confess your sins at least once a year. Which ensures preparation for the Eucharist and continues Baptism’s work of conversion and forgiveness.
3rd Precept: You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
4th Precept: You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. Which help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.
5th Precept: You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church. Always according to our ability.
Brothers and sisters, one of the many gifts that God has given all of us, is that of ‘common sense’ – but we must use it to sharpen it. And our common sense can be used when following these precepts. For instance, if the weather is bad and you cannot make it to church, God will understand; if you have ‘aged out’ or under medical care and cannot fast, God understands; and if one is on a limited income and unable to donate for the needs of the church, again, God understands.
And, on a lighter note, Divine Mercy Parish offers seven different mass times on the weekend to allow people to attend mass and not miss a game!
