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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