Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Homily: 23rd Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday - "Empty, seductive philosophies"

Since last Wednesday, the first readings for weekday Mass have been taken from St. Paul’s epistle to the Colossians. 

It’s a short letter, only four chapters: you can read the whole thing in 10 minutes, this morning or this afternoon with a cup of coffee.

Like most of Paul’s letters, Colossians is divided into two parts.  The first two chapters make up the first part.  They are theological and doctrinal.  The second part, which we’ll read tomorrow, begins the practical application.  And the two parts are connected: right belief and right living are connected by Christ.

The main theological point of Colossians is that Christ is the center of everything. Therefore Christians must put Him first in everything they do.  Because he is the center of reality, “through him and for him all things exist”, He must be the center of our lives. 

We heard today, “See to it that no one captivates you with an empty, seductive philosophy,  according to the tradition of men, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ.”  In other words, see to it that the worldly philosophies do not seduce you away from Christ.  We know all too well how the world seduces Christians away from Christ and away from the Church.

Our young people seem so susceptible to the empty, seductive philosophies of our day.  Sociologist Christian Smith wrote recently that the predominant religion practiced by so many of our young people today is not Christianity but what he called moral therapeutic Deism—meaning young people are only interested in religion insofar as it makes them feel happy and good. 

When they feel particularly religious, much occurs less and less frequently, or when they feel like God can help them with something they will pray or go to Church.

But when the faith is reduced to its feel-good elements there is little thought of repentance from sin and building character through suffering and self-discipline. 

Such is truly an empty philosophy because Christ is not at the center, rather the ego.  But when the ego is the only dictator of truth, we are truly imprisoned by ourselves.  No doubt, one reason for declining Mass attendance.

St. Paul and the saints warn us against this ego-centrist form of religion and call us to practice true religion, worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Faith.

May we seek to reclaim for Christ all those who have fallen to the empty, seductive philosophies of our day through our commitment to the saving Gospel of Christ for the glory of God and salvation of souls.


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