n the Gospel Jesus identifies both the master and the steward as guilty of Idolatry. When he says at the very end., “you cannot serve both God and money.” he is rightly saying, “There is only one God, who is Love. Turning profit, popularity, wealth, ambition, success, into Gods to be sought and worshipped is creating idols. Even, of all things, suffering can become a kind of idol for us – something to be sought and treasured as a sign of our goodness, our value in the sight of God. St. Ignatius of Loyola taught that the ‘evil one’ can use our own goodness, our virtues, to draw us away from God. Turning our virtues into the idols we worship is something we must be very careful of!

We can say, “Well, I’m not rich and I never will be. This Gospel is not relevant to me!” But please stop first, and reflect on what other idols you may have created for yourself. Might it be your popularity and good name? Or maybe your achievements and academic degrees? Or what about always looking good and sounding good? How about always owning the biggest and best car? Always flaunting the latest technology? Even the very keyboard I am presently writing on can become an idol, if I let it – I can recite its specs by heart and I know its power, speed and OS. I know it is better than an inferior fruit-like product and I can prove that beyond doubt! Idolatry at its best, or worst!

Ask me what the antidote to Idolatry is and I will say ‘balance’. For me ‘balance’ epitomised the life, words and actions of Jesus. We are called, I believe, to be people of balance above all else. It will be recognised by our ability to forgive, to never condemn, to respect difference, to trust others, to be gentle in word and deed, to smile and laugh and sing and to attract others to do the same.

Oblates.ie