False Gods

 March 31, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent
Daily Readings: Reading I Exodus 32:7-14, Gospel John 5:31-47

God is enraged with the Israelites in the first reading because they worshiped false gods. The Israelites created and worshiped a new god, believing that God had abandoned them and led them to die in the desert. They would have been put to death if it hadn't been for Moses.

We have a tendency, like the Israelites, to forget about God's presence as we go about our daily lives, especially when we are happy and worry-free. When our prayers aren't answered right away or life becomes challenging, we turn away from God.

We often wonder, "Why does God allow all these terrible things to happen?" Despite challenging times, I believe that our experiences can teach us something, no matter how painful or confusing. A part of us is always focused on the negative aspects of life and dwells on them. When things don't go our way, we freak out.

Consider this: a gymnast will experience muscle soreness and blisters on their palms during training before mastering the uneven bars but will never give up exercise. God promised us the best, but he did not promise that the road ahead would always be easy.

But, like the Israelites, we easily fall back on our "false gods": quick fixes to happiness, fame, and success. When these shortcuts fail, we turn to drugs and alcohol, and retail therapy to divert ourselves. Instead, we look to others because we believe they can give us what we want, rather than what God wants. Finally, because they are, after all, false gods, they let us down as well.

It's crucial to remember that God always follows through on our promises. Sure, it takes time and effort, but he is always there for us, even at our weakest. God does not abandon us, which is excellent news. He has always shown us how much he cares about us by sending prophets to help us and sending his son, Jesus, into the world.

We come to you, Lord, and to the Father, our faithful God. May we not be blinded by the problems of this world or the transitory pleasures of this world. May we be led to the light of your Son, Jesus, at all times.