5th Week of Lent 2022 - Wednesday - Pharisaical Idolatry

 The prohibition against idolatry was one of the first and most important laws God gave to the Jewish people. At Sinai, he tells them: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Idolatry became an issue for Israel on numerous occasions. Coming out of the desert, they encountered the Caananite peoples with their many gods. And many fell into idolatry, especially when they intermarried. When they were conquered by the Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Persians, many fell into idolatry, worshipping the gods of their conquerors.

In the first reading today, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were told they must worship an idol or be put to death. They are examples of courageous faith for Jews and for us as well. 

In the Gospel, the Lord addresses the idolatry of the Pharisees. The Pharisees claim to be children of Abraham and worshippers of the One True God of Abraham, but the Lord exposes their idolatry. They might not be offering burnt sacrifices to foreign Gods, they’re idolatry is more subtle, but far worse

Their hardness of hearts, their failure to show mercy, their failure to love the sinner are all evidence they don’t worship the one true God. For if they did, they would resemble the God they worship. The claim to be the religious experts, having an impeccable knowledge of scripture and theology. But they didn’t recognize the God revealed in the Scriptures when he appeared in the flesh before them. 

Worse still, they’ve subverted what religion was supposed to be all about. Right religion is about the right worship and love of God, of serving God, and seeking authentic holiness in this life. They were leading people not to seek authentic holiness, but to imitate their own errors and hardness of heart. 

Why did they hate Jesus? Because he exposed them, and sought to depose them. They put themselves in the place of God, and when he exposed their hypocrisy, they sought to kill him.

These readings certainly help us understand the animosity toward Jesus that led to his arrest and trumped up trials and Passion and Death in the upcoming week. Today’s readings also challenge us to examine our own idolatrous tendencies. Again, not that we are offering burnt offerings to pagan idols, but the idolatry of the self, of the ego, of the need to wrestle control away from God, the resistance toward obeying God and seeking to imitate God.

In the days ahead, may our hearts truly bow before the Lord in worship, as he goes to the cross for us, to save us from sin, to save us from ourselves; for in him we find true freedom, true peace, eternal life and joy, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.